It is a truth generally acknowledged that Nanjing is one of the cities with the lowest crime rate in China. Nevertheless, theft is a persisting problem, increasingly so running up to Chinese New Year.
The approach of the Spring Festival is to blame for an increase in theft towards the end of the Chinese year. The problematic period occurs from December to January each year, when faced with the prospect of having to provide immediate family members with red envelopes quelling over with money, Chinese pickpockets have to work overtime in order to bring home the bacon, or other people’s cash to be more precise.
Chinese people are very aware of the phenomenon of pre-holiday pressure on pickpockets and have developed a multitude of strategies in dealing with the increased threat. These range from moving valuables from one’s back trouser pocket to the inside pocket over securely locking away e-bikes that were previously charged outside overnight to taking particular care of one’s bag in public places, i.e. by always carrying them in front of you. Advertisements in public transportation even suggest to carry your phone in your hand throughout your trip, so thieves will not be able to phish them from your bag without your noticing.
This is precisely what happened to Laura Wagner, a young Austrian currently in Beijing, and one of the victims to the latest wave of pre-holiday theft. Her phone was recently stolen from her bag when she found herself in a crowded place in the capital on her way to the office.
“Initially I felt really angry at myself, since I was considering whether or not to leave the phone at home before I went out. Then I just felt really upset. My next move was to make sure the phone service was cancelled.”
What makes the whole situation worse for the embassy intern is her realization that being robbed is something that can happen to anyone. “The fact that this happened to me really surprised me, since I am usually extremely careful with my things. I didn’t even notice the theft itself. Not until I reached the office did I realize that my bag had been unzipped and my phone was gone”, she admits.
The experience has left a lasting impression on Ms Wagner, tainting her memories of China and destroying her sense of security. “It is such a shame, because I now feel like I can trust no one around me. I know that it is not Chinese people’s fault, this could have happened anywhere, but still I feel very unsafe as a result of this incident.”
Unlike many large cities around the world, the overall crime rate in Chinese cities is relatively low. The Crime Index for 2013 places China at 26.8 percent, ahead of countries such as the United Kingdom (39.7), Australia (44.4) and the US (53.4).
What makes avoiding petty crimes more difficult in China though, is the fact that Chinese cities do not necessarily have “dodgy neighbourhoods” known for high crime rates. Therefore one could fall victim to theft in virtually any place. That being said there are certain hotspots to be aware of. Generally speaking, one should be particularly careful in crowded places and major tourist attractions such as Confucius Temple. The increased threat to such places also makes foreign tourists in China one of the most common targets of theft.
With December approaching fast, Nanjing Expats should try and be aware of the increased threat to their valuables. Be sure to be especially attentive towards suspicious behaviour from others and towards your own blind spots. After all, while we will soon be welcoming a new year with new year’s resolutions, a new phone or wallet are definitely not items one wants to have to add to that list.
