BEIJING - Three foreigners have been detained in Beijing after they stole items from tourists, police in the Chinese capital said on Saturday.

Police refused to disclose the suspects' nationality but said they were from an East Asian country.

"They dressed like tourists. But they were looking at others' bags rather than taking pictures," said a plain clothes policeman in the Summer Palace, where the three suspects were arrested.

The suspects stole a wallet from an Australian tourist but were later caught by the plain clothes officers, police said.

The suspects, two women and a man, are in police detention.