Serial ‘mugger’ detained for stealing Starbucks cups

A Hangzhou woman was detained after she was caught on camera stealing gift cups from numerous area Starbucks – which she later gifted to her son’s teachers.

The woman surnamed Zhang was taken into police custody after she was recently caught red-handed by a Starbucks employee at the Binjiang district outlet.

Officer Zhang Hongyi said he became suspicious when Zhang (no relation) immediately offered compensation and insisted it was her first time.

However, officer Zhang soon learned she fit the description for other similar thefts reported at area Starbucks outlets.

Zhang’s claims further fell flat when employees began sending police incriminating surveillance videos that identified Zhang stealing from their stores.

In one clip, Zhang can be seen putting a gift cup in her purse, then sitting down at a table to play with her phone.

Zhang said she stole for the thrill of it.

“When I got away with it the first time, it was so exciting,” said Zhang.

Police said she also made it a point to say her family “wasn’t poor.”

Though the precise number of stolen cups was not reported, police said Zhang said with pride she already had so many Starbucks cups at home that she was giving them away.

“I had sold some, gave some to my girlfriends and gifted three to my son’s kindergarten teachers as Christmas presents,” Zhang told police.

Zhang is now in police custody awaiting charges.