CHINA / Regional

Two arrested for robbery in Internet date scam
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-05-26 08:43

A young woman and her male friend were arrested after they allegedly robbed a man last Friday after she lured him onto a date after chatting online, Hongkou District police said yesterday.

Police were still looking for another male suspect in the case.

Police said the woman, Jiang Lulu, in her 20s, was convicted of robbery, but declined to say what the terms of her sentence were or when it occurred.

The victim, surnamed He, alerted police after he was robbed by two men in a small lane on Hengbin Road.

The man allegedly said he was deeply attracted to Jiang, who named herself Angel, after they met in an Internet chatroom.

He proposed meeting in person. Jiang agreed.

During the date, she led He into a small lane and asked him to wait as she needed to use a nearby toilet.

Two men appeared from behind after Jiang left, He allegedly told officers.

One robber held He by the neck while the other threatened him with a brick.

The man gave the robbers all of his valuables including 800 yuan (US$100) and his bank cards. He was not injured.

He waited for another 30 minutes after the robbers left, but his date didn't return.

The victim then alerted police, suspecting the woman set him up.

Jiang called He again and said she was angry that he didn't wait for her that night. She didn't realize He suspected she was involved in the robbery, officers said.

Police warned Jiang over the phone and she surrendered to police on Tuesday. With Jiang's help police seized suspect Wu Xin on the same day.