A robbery accomplice who pretended to be a passer-by trying to help the victim has been arrested by police, along with his partner in crime, reports Beijing Star Daily.

At about 11 pm on July 2, Ming kept a lookout while Hong robbed a woman, Xu, who was making a call at a public phone booth near the Summer Palace.

To ensure that Hong would have enough time to flee the scene, Ming quickly approached the woman after the robbery, asking what was wrong and offering to help her catch the robber.

After police arrived and escorted Xu and Ming to the police station to file a report, they were surprised that Ming seemed to recall more details about the robber than Xu did.

The suspicious officers then insisted on accompanying Ming home "because it is so late", they said.

Reluctant but unable to refuse, Ming let the police take him home, where they found the robber matching Ming's detailed description.

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