Three traffic policemen in Shangluo, Shaanxi province, in Northwest China, are being investigated for allegedly extorting money from a man as a reward for finding his stolen car, Huashang Daily reported on Wednesday.

The car belonging to Zhao Dong, who lives in Yulin city, was stolen in Xi'[an, capital of the province, on Dec 20. Zhao, who had been in Xi’an on business at the time, reported the theft to police immediately.

On Jan 7 he was told that traffic police in Shangluo had found his car and he was asked to pick it up. Zhao waited for six hours, but did not get his car back.

After taking a hint from a police officer who accompanied him to Shangluo, he paid a reward of 1,500 yuan ($241) to the three traffic policemen and got his car back in 10 minutes.

Local media reported Zhao's experience and an investigation was begun.

The three traffic policemen argued that the money was used to pay an informant, who tipped them off about the whereabouts of the stolen car.

On Tuesday, traffic police in Shangluo returned the money to Zhao and apologized.

Shaanxi provincial public security bureau said on Tuesday that the investigation is still under way.