On September 30, 2026, Chinese media outlet Dazhong Net reported that 4 men from a theft group were arrested in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, after stealing 13 tons of shared bicycles and selling them as scrap metal, but incurring high expenses and ending up with a deficit.

【その他の写真】

The article introduces the details of a theft case recently uncovered by the Xi'an Public Security Bureau Economic Development Zone Branch Zhangjiapu Police Station.

According to the article, the ringleader, suspect Liu (Liu), heard about the financial difficulties of the shared bicycle industry while having a meal with a friend in August this year, and came up with the idea that he could make money by dismantling unmanaged bicycles and selling them as scrap metal.

He then invited three unemployed friends, proposed a 'get-rich-quick scheme,' and formed a theft group. To ensure the operation's success, he borrowed money to rent a truck, rented a warehouse in the suburbs for dismantling, and promised his three accomplices a daily wage of 500 yuan (approximately 11,800 yen).

Over eight days, the four men drove the truck late at night, traveling to various locations in Xi'an City, stealing over 300 shared bicycles from three different platforms, totaling 13 tons in weight. To evade tracking, they transported the bicycles to the suburban warehouse, removed the GPS devices, and, impersonating platform staff, sold them to a scrap metal dealer for 4,000 yuan per ton (approximately 94,000 yen), earning a total revenue of over 50,000 yuan (approximately 1.18 million yen).

However, when suspect Liu calculated, he found that after deducting expenses such as truck rental fees, warehouse rent, his accomplices' daily wages, and dismantling costs, not only was there no profit, but it was actually a deficit, leaving him stunned.

The article reported that as the four men were about to repeat their crimes to cover their losses, the police, after receiving a report from a company, identified the criminal group and their warehouse through security camera footage and investigation, leading to the arrest of the four men.

It also stated that during interrogation, suspect Liu admitted to the crime and showed remorse, saying that he was not only arrested as a result of being tempted to make money, but also dragged his friends into it, and it wasn't even worth the trouble. The police reportedly took compulsory measures against the four on suspicion of theft and also called on shared bicycle operating companies to strengthen their security management. (Edited and translated by Kawajiri)