Car thefts, robberies down 14 percent in Beijing
( 2002-07-25 09:01 ) (8 )

Car thefts and vehicle robberies in the Chinese capital have dropped by a dramatic 14 percent in the first half of the year, compared with the same period last year, a city police spokesman said Wednesday.

Statistics show that the police cleared 257 such cases in the period, 36.7 percent more than the same period last year, and cracked 18 criminal gangs, arresting 252 suspects and seizing 458 stolen vehicles.

The police reinforced their investigations with the help of criminal information networks, arresting 1,247 wanted people by the end of June, 560 more than the same period a year ago, the spokesman said.