Shenzhen Dangerous

Posted by simonosborne (378 days ago)

I was in Shenzhen 2 weeks ago. I'd just come out of the shopping mall and was waiting at traffic lights to cross the road.

I felt a small bump from behind - not too significant, but I turned my head.

There was a Chinese guy with his arm deep in my (fully-unzipped) small backpack.

I span round and he backed off, holding his hands up in a sort of Bart Simpson-esque "I didn't do it" pose.

I checked, and passport, wallet and blackberry were all there. One millisecond later, he'd have scooped the lot, and i'd have been in a pickle.

He ran 20 yards and stood behind a group of women squatting on the floor. I went after him - sorely vexed as you can imagine.

I shook my fist at him, shouting that I was very vexed.

Around me, some elderly Chinese guys (who presumably saw him sticking his hand in and kept schtum), found it all very funny and were hooting and kicking up their legs as if to say "Kick him up the bottom."

He ran again, just a short distance, and I called off the pursuit. He could have grabbed a sharpened chopstick or have friends with iron bars.

So the moral of the story - be careful in Shenzhen, and don't use backpacks.

I wouldn't mind so much, but the only other time I went to Shenzhen I got robbed too.

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Posted by WoDer (378 days ago)

well. walking with an open backpack in public places is a invitation for trouble, not only in shenzen.

Posted by HK01 (378 days ago)

The moral of your story should be don't play the tough guy and chase people around in an eviorment you are not familiar with or are not from... You stuff was not missing, so what were you trying to prove by chasing him.
Most everyone knows not to travel there with a backpack and if you do, to carry it in fromt of you, and certinally not have your passport or phone in it.

Posted by simonosborne (378 days ago)

It wasn't open orignally.

He opened it. Ever so fast.

Posted by Claire (378 days ago)

Shenzhen dangerous? This is not news. Many countries have issued travel warnings about place.

Posted by Dick Bush (378 days ago)

Simon:

never ever follow a thief that's close to the most stupid thing you can do.

If you want to do something, knock him down while his hand is in your backpack or pocket (or when his hands are up).

You are then still in an open space and the thugs are unlikely to attack you, unlike if you follow them to an alley.

More wisely, just fend him off and move away.

Posted by car_lover (378 days ago)

Not so true Dick Bush. A friend, local guy, went to Shenzhen and got rob in broad daylight. When u exit the Shenzhen immigration, there is a huge space right in front whr people are hanging out, he was approach by 3 guys and 1 told him to let go of his bag and at first, he thought he cld take all 3 down, bt later notice, another 4 guys approaching and quickly let go of his bag. They will rob u anywhere, not just in the alley.

Posted by Dick Bush (378 days ago)

Car lover: I mean that it's truly dangerous for anyone to follow a thies.

I know the open space you refer to very well and I would say that at least there you have some benefit from being a gweilo -- it attracts way too much attention if you'll get involved in a trouble with a foreigner.

It's still a completely different story that there are also so many skilled pickpockets that you won't even realize when they snatch your wallet.

Posted by lambada (377 days ago)

I think Shenzhen is getting worse. I had $1000 RMB stolen last visit by a pickpocket. Thank God I had the sense to leave my credit cards etc at home. I've known several people who have been beaten up and robbed. They often copying credit cards and use them in other countries. Also the coins and notes are often fake. Half the time the electronic stuff is rubbish and breaks down. Although the people are generally lovely, the guys can get nasty if you go out and talk to the girls. I use to laugh when HK locals told me it was too dangerous but I tend to agree now. Why bother? I kind of wonder why the PRC government doesn't crack down on it before everyone gives up on the place. It's such a shame.

Posted by chiki (377 days ago)

oh and no matter what - TRY your hardest to avoid the food! Did anyone see the report on fake steamed buns last night?? Ghastly!

Posted by Pine (375 days ago)

SZ is China's thieves den.

Locals rarely use backpacks and if they do, it's very scruffy and dirty; so the thieves would not even want to both. Any visitor-looking person with a backbag is an open invitation to be robbed, pickpocketed. They know that being an outsider to sZ, they can outrun you just on geographical knowledge of the streets. And they always work in a gang/group to pass the loot off. A consortium of sorts.

Posted by Tinky (262 days ago)

How safe is it for two women to head to Lo Wu on their own?They are first timers.

Posted by ceeh (261 days ago)

Tinky, despite what is written above I have been going to Shenzhen regularly for five years and I have never felt threatened or insecure at the LoWu shopping mall. I am happy to go on my own or with friends but I would suggest that if you are a first timer it would be better to enrol with the YWCA or Australian Assoc (or similar) to join their guided 'shopping trip'.

Doing it this way will show you the ropes, give you some idea of how much you should pay and which shops are best for what you want.

Having said that I would not feel safe going to outer Shenzhen on my own - would always do it with a group, not just two people unless I had a guide or local to show me around.

As in any city you need to be aware of what is going on around you.

Posted by the goddess kali (261 days ago)

tinky i've lived in Shenzhen for 2 years now and have found it perfectly safe. Luo hu border is ripe pickings as it's full of hong kongers coming with money to shop in horrible luo hu commercial center.

Posted by evildeeds (261 days ago)

Been in and out of the place well over 100 times now and to be honest you just have to take care like in any other big city. Pickpockets, bag snatchers do not make a place dangerous as such.

Simple to follow advice - never put items in back pockets, always the front. Some pickpockets are good for the front as well so untuck your shirt or t-shirt, not only will you look cooler you will also add another line of defense. People rarely snatch bags now since they banned motorcycles from the city centre but the hand in the backpack and sometime the slashing of the bottom of a backpack do happen. Don't keep important stuff in easy reach, buy a good laptop bag with floating pocket, something like a Samsonite with a good hard bottom is ideal.

As Kali mentioned above LuoHu can be a bit of a hot spot as can crowded places around Dongmen. But that is similar to other cities. Outskirts of Shenzhen, where I spend much of my time now, is a different story. Still uncontrolled and even as a man we travel in at least 2's at night in these places.

Posted by missdj (234 days ago)

I've been to Shenzhen many many times and to LoWu Commercial shopping centre. Great shopping, but I have never traveled alone, always with a friend. Never had any problems, but do leave credit cards, etc at home. I usually take a packpack and very small over the shoulder chest purse. I keep passport and cash in it. Purchase in the backpack. I alsostash little bits of money in different pockets, so if they take some, I at least am left with some cash. Or if you feel safer, use a money belt or something similar. Dong men and LoWu are the more dangerous areas. I have shopped in other areas in Shenzhen and feel much safer and enjoy the shopping.

Posted by mayita (194 days ago)

Hello Miss DJ,
Which are these other areas in SZ which are much safer than DongMen & Lo Wu ?
Thanks for the advice about credit cards !

Posted by Bayliner1901 (192 days ago)

There is no one area that's safe in this world. The safety starts with yourself where being aware of your surroundings, how well you secure your personal belongings and avoid quiet streets or alleys... Dongmen and Lo Wu do have more crooks, but if they can't easily get to your thngs, then they can't harm you. Most are pick pocketers, not robbers by gun or knife or by force... There are too many people and plain clothes police in the area... Anyway, "Wa Keung Bei" area is a better place in comparsion, but not safe proof....