Married Couple Arrested for Stealing Four Bicycles Worth NT$100,000 from New Taipei High School Students

Four students at Yongping High School in New Taipei City were devastated to find their bicycles missing from the school vicinity. The stolen bikes, valued between NT$5,000 and NT$40,000 each, amounted to a total loss of NT$100,000. As these bicycles were essential for the students' daily commute, both the students and their parents were extremely anxious and immediately reported the incident to the police.

Investigators from the Yonghe Precinct reviewed surveillance footage and identified a married couple, identified as 58-year-old Mr. Chen and 56-year-old Ms. Chiu, as the prime suspects. The couple targeted bicycles parked on the roadside that were not locked. After stealing them, they would hide the bikes nearby before using a van to transport them away, attempting to evade detection.

Police apprehended the couple within three hours of the crime. They recovered three stolen bicycles from Mr. Chen's van and found the fourth bike hidden nearby. The couple claimed they took the bicycles because they appeared to be abandoned and unlocked. However, police dismissed these claims as an attempt to evade responsibility. Both individuals were subsequently sent to the New Taipei District Prosecutors Office on suspicion of theft.

Authorities are urging the public to develop the habit of locking their bicycles, recommending the use of high-security anti-theft locks. They also advise parking bicycles in areas with surveillance cameras to reduce the risk of theft. The police encourage anyone who spots suspicious individuals or vehicles loitering around school areas to report them immediately by calling 110.

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The couple claimed they took the bicycles because they appeared to be abandoned and unlocked.