AN 18-member gang that stole cars and valuables from cars throughout the country was caught by police in Futian District recently, yesterday s Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.
The suspects, aged between 18 and 31, had allegedly committed crimes in about 30 cities in 12 provinces since 2006. About 260 cases involving more than 10 million yuan (US$1.50 million) were committed this year, according to a preliminary investigation by police.
They allegedly stole goods worth more than 1.8 million yuan in one case, police said.
They were detained and investigations are continuing.
A resident of Lianhuayicun in Futian District, identified as Chen, interrupted three of the thieves when they were trying to break into his BMW car Sept. 19. The thieves escaped in a stolen car, but police found a mobile phone left by one of the thieves.
This led to the 18 thieves being rounded up by police between Oct. 14 and Wednesday.
The police confiscated six cars, more than 150,000 yuan, stolen goods and tools used in stealing, police said.
The thieves told police that five of them, including one surnamed Li and one surnamed Ran, started stealing valuables, such as money, laptops and digital products, from cars in Kaixian and Wanzhou counties in Chongqing in 2006. They later moved to Shenzhen where more people joined them.
They concentrated on stealing luxury cars, such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Teana and Buick. If there were keys left in a car, they would simply drive it away, police told the paper.
They bought a luxury sport utility vehicle to travel between cities. (Wang Yuanyuan)
