North

Brave biker snatches back wife's bag

A have-a-go hero who tackled a motorcycle thief was surprised to find the bag he rescued belonged to his wife.

Chang Kesheng had just finished shopping with his family in Gaocheng, Hebei province, and was traveling home with his son on a motorbike when he heard shouts of "Stop, thief".

Spotting a masked rider with a woman's bag, the brave father took chase and confronted the thief when he dismounted. The duo fought and, despite receiving an injury to his left leg, Chang was able to wrest the bag from the man before he made a quick getaway.

Chang's wife, who had been following behind her husband on a bicycle, caught up about 10 minutes later and found him sitting by the road with her bag in his hands.

"I had no idea it was my wife that had been robbed. I just wanted to catch the guy," Chang said.

(Hebei Youth Daily)

Gang raids temple money boxes

A gang of thieves who pretended to be pilgrims so they could steal money from donation boxes in Buddhist temples are facing trial at a Beijing court.

The five defendants are accused of driving a rented car from their hometown in Anhui province to the capital's Tanzhe Temple and then Wutai Mountain in Shanxi province earlier this year.

It is believed they took more than 7,000 yuan ($1,100) from donation boxes.

Police say the gang had clear responsibilities: one was the lookout, another pretended to worship Buddha statues, others blocked the surveillance cameras and another took the cash.

All five are being tried at Mentougou county court.

(The Mirror Evening News)