'Infant stealing' redefined amid effort to fight crimes

People who lure or trick infants in order to abduct them will face heavier penalties, the top court announced.

In a new judicial interpretation, released by the Supreme People's Court on Thursday, acts that involve the abduction of children under the age of 6 through luring them away from their parent or guardian, such as tricking them with toys or coaxing them to play outside, will be defined as "infant stealing".

Under Chinese Criminal Law, people who steal infants will be sentenced to at least 10 years in jail, and serious circumstances, including stealing or treating babies in cruel ways, will result in the death penalty.