Police solved 10.5 percent more thefts during the first eight months of this year than they did during the same period of 2005, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau announced yesterday.

The bureau would not give an exact number on the amount of thefts reported during the period, the percentage solved, the total money involved, or say if the number of theft reports rose or fell from last year, however.

Police did say that more than 7,000 suspects arrested for theft this year have already had their day in court. They didn't say how many of those suspects were found guilty.

Police said a large number of the thefts fell into one of three categories: muggers grabbing jewelry from females walking alone along the street; moped riders snatching bags from vehicles through the window; and burglars stealing valuables from hotel rooms.

Police officials revealed officers cracked down on two major robbery rings in Songjiang and Jiading districts in August. Members of both groups allegedly rode motorcycles and snatched handbags and jewelry from women pedestrians.

Early last month, Songjiang District police detained eight men from Henan Province for allegedly committing 42 robberies worth more than 30,000 yuan (US$3,750) throughout the city since 2005. Police confiscated six motorcycles allegedly used in the crimes.

On August 15, Jiading District police caught up with two suspected robbers in Jiangqiao Town, which they say led to the discovery of a seven-member robbery ring under the leadership of Tan Feng.

Tang, originally from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was wanted for a murder in his hometown in 2001.

In Minhang District, police seized 13 Jiangxi Province natives in June and July, accusing them of being involved in 32 snatch-and-run cases targeting valuables inside vehicles.

Victims were sedan owners in five districts and the stolen goods were worth more than 200,000 yuan, police said. Police alleged the suspects either broke sedan windows at night to commit theft or rode on a moped and grabbed valuables from the cars through open windows.

(Shanghai Daily September 14, 2006)