Theft campaign nets 223 arrests

Police in Guangdong province swooped down on 40 criminal gangs that stole vehicles and detained 223 suspects during a special campaign that included some gunbattles, a senior police officer said.

"We met strong resistance during the campaign, and some suspects returned fire," Chen Junhua, a division chief with the criminal investigation bureau under the Guangdong Provincial Department of Public Security, said on Tuesday.

No casualties were reported, Chen said.