15 students in criminal detention on suspicion of series of muggings

Agroup of 15 middle school pupils have been put in criminal detention in Beijing on suspicion of carrying out a series of muggings in early

Agroup of 15 middle school December in the Sanlitun pupils have been put in criminal area, a popular commercial detention in Beijing on district in the capital’s downtown suspicion of carrying out a area. series of muggings in early

Police said the gang operated December in the Sanlitun late at night and targeted area, a popular commercial multiple victims in the district, district in the capital’s downtown which is known for its area. bars and shopping centers. Police said the gang operated All of the suspects study at a late at night and targeted nearbymiddleschool, with the multiple victims in the district, youngest aged 13, police said. which is known for its

Police refused to release bars and shopping centers. detailed information regarding

All of the suspects study at a the students as they are nearbymiddleschool, with the minors, but said that with the youngest aged 13, police said.

Police refused to release detailed information regarding the students as they are minors, but said that with the gang busted, safety has been restored in the area. No school in the areahadclaimedthe students as of Tuesday afternoon.

One of the suspects, surnamed gang busted, safety has been Zhai, said they had restored in the area. No school spent the money from the in the areahadclaimedthe students robberies in bars and karaoke as of Tuesday afternoon. venues nearby. He said that

One of the suspects, surnamed he was too ashamed to ask his Zhai, said they had parents for pocket money so spent the money from the he agreed to join the gang. robberies in bars and karaoke

Police used closed-circuit venues nearby. He said that television footage to track he was too ashamed to ask his down the gang members, parents for pocket money so who are accused of threatening he agreed to join the gang. their victims with knives

Police used closed-circuit and other weapons. television footage to track

They allegedly worked in down the gang members, small groups, wearing masks who are accused of threatening and changing outfits frequently their victims with knives to hinder police and other weapons. investigations. They allegedly worked in It is not known how many small groups, wearing masks people fell victim to the gang, and changing outfits frequently to hinder police investigations.

It is not known how many people fell victim to the gang, but a man surnamed Jin was recently interviewed by BeijingMorning Post.

“I was walking along when two teenagers came up to me, but a man surnamed Jin was said they were hurt and asked recently interviewed by BeijingMorning me for money,” Jin was quoted Post. as saying. “I was walking along when “I tried to ignore them, but two teenagers came up to me, they suddenly took out a knife said they were hurt and asked andtoldmeto ‘behave’— Iwas me for money,” Jin was quoted too frightened to fight back.” as saying. Jin said the teens took all “I tried to ignore them, but his cash in addition to taking they suddenly took out a knife money from his digital wallet andtoldmeto ‘behave’— Iwas too frightened to fight back.”

Jin said the teens took all his cash in addition to taking money from his digital wallet and forcing him to withdraw more cash from an ATM. In total, they stole more than 2,100 yuan ($300) along with his cellphone, he said. and forcing him to withdraw

Another victim suffered a more cash from an ATM. In nonfatal knife cut for failing total, they stole more than to hand over any money, 2,100 yuan ($300) along with police said. his cellphone, he said. The gang was busted after Another victim suffered a police noticed a suspect who nonfatal knife cut for failing resembled one of the robbers to hand over any money, fromthevideofootageduringa police said. nightly patrol on Dec 9. He later

The gang was busted after admitted that he was scouting police noticed a suspect who for new victims and led resembled one of the robbers officers to his alleged accomplices, fromthevideofootageduringa who were subsequently nightly patrol on Dec 9. He later arrested at their homes. admitted that he was scouting

Police said that the tools for new victims and led used in the muggings, such as officers to his alleged accomplices, electric prods, were stored at who were subsequently the suspects’ homes, and their arrested at their homes. parents had failed to notice

Police said that the tools them. used in the muggings, such as electric prods, were stored at the suspects’ homes, and their parents had failed to notice them.

Age of the youngest member of a gang suspected of carrying out a series of muggings Age of the youngest member of a gang suspected of carrying out a series of muggings CHINA DAILY (ISSN 07486154) is published daily except weekends by China Daily USA, 1500 Broadway, Suite 2800, New York, NY 10036. Periodical postage paid at New York, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CHINA DAILY USA, 1500 Broadway, Suite 2800, New York, NY 10036.

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