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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Crime & Justice

Taiwanese police arrest two for stealing iron sheets amid rising steel prices

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Two men were arrested in Taiwan for stealing 10 iron sheets worth over $9,000 from a construction site.
  • The thefts occurred recently, with police identifying the suspects through surveillance footage.
  • The suspects had previously used a similar method to steal construction materials in another town.

Two men in Taiwan have been apprehended for allegedly stealing 10 iron sheets from a construction site, a crime reportedly motivated by rising steel prices. The suspects, identified by police as Mr. Chiu and Mr. Yu, were caught after a construction company reported the theft of materials valued at over NT$300,000 (approximately $9,000 USD).

Recently, steel prices have risen. Seeing that the construction site had steel building materials, they took the opportunity when no one was around at night to steal 10 iron sheets, valued at over 300,000 yuan.

— Police statementExplaining the motive and value of the stolen goods.

Authorities reviewed surveillance footage, which showed two suspicious vehicles entering the construction site on the night of the incident. The investigation led police to identify Chiu and Yu as the primary suspects. They were arrested on May 18th, and the stolen iron sheets were recovered.

Police revealed that the duo had employed a similar tactic in April, stealing steel plates and plastic formwork from a site in Yizhu Township. In the recent incident, Yu allegedly spotted the unguarded iron sheets at a construction site in Fanlu Township on May 13th. He then collaborated with Chiu, and on May 16th, they used a sedan and a large truck to access the site, break the lock, and load the 10 iron sheets onto the truck.

We reviewed surveillance footage and identified two suspicious vehicles that entered the construction site. We then tracked down Mr. Chiu and Mr. Yu, who were involved in the case.

— Police statementDescribing the method used to identify the suspects.

The construction company discovered the theft on May 18th and reported it to the Zhongpu Precinct of the Chiayi County Police Bureau. The police successfully apprehended the suspects and recovered the stolen materials in Dongshi Township, returning them to the rightful owner. The case has been transferred to the Chiayi District Prosecutor's Office for further investigation and charges of theft.

In April, they used the same method to steal steel plates and plastic formwork from Yizhu Township.

— Police statementDetailing the suspects' prior criminal activity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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