A man surnamed Tran from Liaoning province was traveling in Hunan province. On 31/5, he booked a flight home for 1,500 CNY (approximately 210 USD), but canceled it, deeming it too expensive.
A skilled car thief, Tran broke into unlocked dealerships at night, took keys from cabinets, and drove off with cars awaiting service. He also targeted unattended parking lots, hot-wiring older models.
Starting 1/6, Tran began his journey home, spanning seven cities and involving eight stolen vehicles. He abandoned each car when it ran out of fuel, then stole another. To cover food and toll expenses, he pilfered valuables from the vehicles.
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Surveillance footage shows Tran driving a stolen vehicle. Photo: 163 |
Surveillance footage shows Tran driving a stolen vehicle. Photo: 163
On 2/6, a Wuhan car dealership reported a theft to the police. Authorities tracked the stolen vehicle, worth over 150,000 CNY, and discovered it had left Wuhan.
The next day, Tran was caught attempting to steal a car in Hebei province, injuring the owner while fleeing.
On 4/6, police apprehended Tran while he was sleeping inside a car in a Hebei parking lot.
The total value of the eight cars Tran used is estimated at one million CNY (about 140,000 USD). All vehicles have been recovered.
Tran is currently in custody. Individuals involved in serious car theft cases can face sentences exceeding 10 years in prison, along with fines.
Tran’s crime spree garnered over 20 million views on social media. "All that to avoid spending 1,500 CNY? Totally not worth it," and, "Tran is clearly determined. If he applied this drive to something else, he could achieve great things," commented users.
Three years ago, also in China, a student stole cash and credit cards to fund over 120 domestic and international trips.
Tue Anh (SCMP)
