SHANGHAI - As the number of visitors to Expo 2010 Shanghai continues to grow, police have now started working around the clock to curb crime in and around the Expo Garden.
Thieves from two gangs, who targeted visitors' mobile phones, digital cameras and lenses, were recently caught in the Expo Garden. All the suspects came to Shanghai from other provinces shortly after the Expo opened on May 1.
Police apprehended three suspects on May 29. Two of them later confessed to stealing from visitors in the Expo Garden.
The suspects were charged with 10 counts of theft from May 27 to May 29, according to the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Public Security.
Police spotted one of the suspects while patrolling the Expo Garden at about 3 pm. The suspect was wandering around with a camera in his hand, but was not taking any pictures.
Later that day, three police officers went to where the suspect was staying and arrested two accomplices. Four cameras, nine camera lenses and four mobile phones were recovered from their luggage.
The case is under further police investigation.
Another gang stealing from visitors in the Expo Garden was caught on May 16.
A photographer from a local newspaper lost one of his camera lenses during the Expo trial run. Although he immediately reported the loss to the police, he hasn't heard back.
"I was walking in the Expo Garden with the camera on my back. When I wanted to take a picture, I realized the lens was gone," said the photographer, who asked to remain anonymous.
"I have heard that there are some thieves that are only targeting camera lenses," he said.
Undercover police are on duty more than 15 hours a day in the Expo Garden.
But visitors are warned to pay more attention to their valuables, such as wallets, cell phones, cameras and camera lenses, especially in crowded places and dimly lit pavilions.
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