Young Shanghai Man Arrested for Stealing Wallets to Fund Extensive Travels
A 25-year-old Shanghai resident, working in human resources and a graduate of a prestigious local university, has been apprehended for allegedly stealing multiple wallets to finance over 120 trips throughout China and abroad over the past three years.
How the Crime Came to Light
The investigation unfolded after a job candidate arriving for an interview noticed his wallet had gone missing. Shortly thereafter, a call from the bank revealed that his credit card had been used to buy a return plane ticket under the name of the HR employee, surnamed An. Authorities traced the suspicious activity back to An’s residence where further evidence was uncovered.
Multiple Victims Found
Police recovered two additional stolen wallets belonging to individuals with the surnames Zhou and Zhang. Zhou, a colleague of An, reported losing around 1,000 yuan and personal identification but did not file a formal complaint, assuming it was a minor incident.
Zhang, another victim, lost a wallet containing 20,000 yuan (about US$3,000) and several credit cards at an airport in Dubai. He recalled briefly leaving his wallet unattended at a check-in counter, only to discover it missing moments later. Due to his tight schedule while traveling, Zhang did not report the incident.
The Motive Behind the Thefts
During police questioning, An admitted his crimes stemmed from a deep passion for travel and a desire to share his experiences online. He reportedly confessed, "I enjoy making friends in unfamiliar places; we often spend evenings chatting and sometimes even have intimate encounters. These have been some of the best moments of my life."
At the time of arrest, An was preparing for yet another journey to Africa, having already received necessary travel vaccinations.
Authorities Continue Investigation
The case remains under active investigation as officials work to fully map the extent of An’s activities and recover losses from the victims.
Note: The man reportedly earns a monthly salary of around 10,000 yuan (approximately US$1,400).
