Beijing police have broken up 62 prostitution gangs so far this year and apprehended 475 suspects who were providing prostitution services by handing out obscene cards, according to China's Ministry of Public Security.

As part of the crackdown, police also smashed three hide-outs where the cards were being produced and confiscated more than 700,000 cards, the ministry said.

Prostitution gangs that use such cards have become a major problem in some downtown areas, hotels and communities in Beijing, according to the ministry.

The cards usually bear obscene images of women and contact information.

Beijing police also intensified their inspection of bathing venues.

Statistics from the ministry show that 620 hotels and bathing venues have been punished for violations of laws and regulations.

Bicycle theft was also targeted.

The Beijing police have cracked 329 bicycle theft gangs, nabbed 3,686 suspects, smashed 774 hide-outs and confiscated 18,825 bicycles so far this year, according to the ministry.

It said the number of reported bike thefts had dropped by 40 percent year-on-year.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2007)