When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others.
Friday, 16 January 2009
Surge in Thefts and Robberies in Dongguan
Dongguan in the Pearl River Delta may be in the grip of a crime wave, as its once-booming manufacturing sector struggles amid the global financial crisis.
Dongguan in the Pearl River Delta may be in the grip of a crime wave, as its once-booming manufacturing sector struggles amid the global financial crisis.
Few public reports have emerged but there has been a surge in postings on popular online chat rooms and bulletin boards in the past two months offering first-hand accounts of thefts and robberies.
“They hit my face and forced me to tell them the password for my debit card,” one contributor called “Loving Monica” said of an attack on her in Houjie township, Dongguan, on December 3.
Two men dragged her into a car. She said she shouted for help as her abductors circled the bank in the car but nobody noticed.
The men eventually pushed her out of the car after getting the password out of her and taking money from her account at a nearby ATM.
She said she went to the police to ask to see security camera footage of the area but they refused.
Hundreds of netizens replied to her post, saying they also felt street crime had become more rampant. “In Dongguan, being robbed is common. You are among the lucky ones. My friend is still in hospital because of a robbery,” one said.
In addition, at least two big jewellers in Changping and Shijie townships were robbed at gunpoint in December.
The decline in public safety is an embarrassment to the municipal government, which had pledged to clean up the city’s streets after a spate of bag-snatchings by motorcycle robbers and other crimes two years ago.
Although motorcycles were banned in the city, among other measures, a growing number of jobless migrants now pose a new threat.
Houjie party chief Li Huiqin told a public security conference early last month the township was facing more public-safety challenges than ever because of the huge number of jobless people.
He called on the police to make an all-out effort to counter the worsening situation.
Security guards protecting factories that have been shut down are also worried.
“It’s tough to be here just by myself,” security guard Li Jun said, as he stood watch outside a factory that closed in November after laying off 200 workers.
“Three other factories have also closed in the neighbourhood and the nearby stores and restaurants have closed down one after another.”
He said he was the only person in the three-storey plant protecting its stocks of raw materials.
“I’m so worried every night about what would happen if thieves turned up,” Mr. Li said. “One or two thieves are fine. But I would be in great danger if three or more came.”
Those who are lucky enough to still have a job in Dongguan’s factories say they are also concerned about living in half-deserted areas.
“More than half of my neighbours have moved out of the six-storey rented building and gone back to their hometowns,” a female migrant worker said.
“I have heard of so many break-ins in Dongguan recently. No one would notice if I were robbed or killed in the dreary building.
“Every day you read all sorts of crime stories in the newspaper and hear all sorts of horrible experiences from friends,” she said.
1 comment:
Surge in Thefts and Robberies in Dongguan
He Huifeng
12 January 2009
Dongguan in the Pearl River Delta may be in the grip of a crime wave, as its once-booming manufacturing sector struggles amid the global financial crisis.
Few public reports have emerged but there has been a surge in postings on popular online chat rooms and bulletin boards in the past two months offering first-hand accounts of thefts and robberies.
“They hit my face and forced me to tell them the password for my debit card,” one contributor called “Loving Monica” said of an attack on her in Houjie township, Dongguan, on December 3.
Two men dragged her into a car. She said she shouted for help as her abductors circled the bank in the car but nobody noticed.
The men eventually pushed her out of the car after getting the password out of her and taking money from her account at a nearby ATM.
She said she went to the police to ask to see security camera footage of the area but they refused.
Hundreds of netizens replied to her post, saying they also felt street crime had become more rampant. “In Dongguan, being robbed is common. You are among the lucky ones. My friend is still in hospital because of a robbery,” one said.
In addition, at least two big jewellers in Changping and Shijie townships were robbed at gunpoint in December.
The decline in public safety is an embarrassment to the municipal government, which had pledged to clean up the city’s streets after a spate of bag-snatchings by motorcycle robbers and other crimes two years ago.
Although motorcycles were banned in the city, among other measures, a growing number of jobless migrants now pose a new threat.
Houjie party chief Li Huiqin told a public security conference early last month the township was facing more public-safety challenges than ever because of the huge number of jobless people.
He called on the police to make an all-out effort to counter the worsening situation.
Security guards protecting factories that have been shut down are also worried.
“It’s tough to be here just by myself,” security guard Li Jun said, as he stood watch outside a factory that closed in November after laying off 200 workers.
“Three other factories have also closed in the neighbourhood and the nearby stores and restaurants have closed down one after another.”
He said he was the only person in the three-storey plant protecting its stocks of raw materials.
“I’m so worried every night about what would happen if thieves turned up,” Mr. Li said. “One or two thieves are fine. But I would be in great danger if three or more came.”
Those who are lucky enough to still have a job in Dongguan’s factories say they are also concerned about living in half-deserted areas.
“More than half of my neighbours have moved out of the six-storey rented building and gone back to their hometowns,” a female migrant worker said.
“I have heard of so many break-ins in Dongguan recently. No one would notice if I were robbed or killed in the dreary building.
“Every day you read all sorts of crime stories in the newspaper and hear all sorts of horrible experiences from friends,” she said.
“How can one have confidence in Dongguan?”
Post a Comment