REGIONAL> Society
Thieves in razor blade escape plot are foiled
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-02-11 11:26

Five pickpockets were foiled after trying to flee police in Linfen, Shanxi province, by swallowing razor blades.

The crooks were first spotted by a local photographer who snapped one stealing a mobile phone in a shopping mall. Police arrested all five for questioning after seeing the picture on the Internet.

But they later had to be rushed to hospital for treatment after swallowing razor blades wrapped in tin foil.

Cops soon discovered it was a trick to escape when one passed the blade at the hospital. He admitted: "After being caught we swallow such things to get mercy, then try to run away and discharged them by eating banana and Chinese chive."