Two suspects in Kunlun jade heist remain at large

Two suspects in Kunlun jade heist remain at large

• Source: Global Times
• [09:56 March 21 2011]
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Two suspects of a jade heist still remain at large after a group of 11 camouflaged men armed with knives stole millions in rough jade from a warehouse last August, the Beijing Times reported Saturday.

Several members of the gang broke into a Chaoyang district warehouse and stole unfinished Kunlun jade worth around 16 million yuan ($2,435,200) on August 9, 2010.

The price of Kunlun jade increased tenfold after the precious stone was used to adorn medals awarded during the Beijing Olympics.

The gang, disguised in camouflage and red face paint, entered the warehouse at 3 am, where they bound two security guards, sealed their mouths with tape and smashed the surveillance camera.

The men then slashed two additional guards, drove a truck into the warehouse and fled after loading it full with jade.

The two injured security guards were sent to the hospital after police arrived at the scene.

Investigations revealed the company that donated the Kunlun jade used on the Olympic medals rented the warehouse to store the stones.

Three members of the gang attempted a heist at the same location again on September 27.

The alarm sounded when a man climbed the wall and a guard dog inside the warehouse scared off the other suspects.

A surveillance camera recorded the license plate of their getaway truck.

Police later tracked down its owner and detained nine of the gang members in December last year.

One detained suspect told police that they sold the rough jade for 2.2 million yuan in Geermu, Qinghai Province, and then divvied up the money.

The police are still in pursuit of the two suspects at large.

Global Times