"Don't Count Money on Luxury Car Streets" Chinese Targeted by Crime

Strong Crimes Targeting Chinese Nationals in France, Thailand, etc.
"Chinese Perceived as Cash-Rich... Caution in Words and Actions Advised"

Foreign media reports have emerged that Chinese people are becoming targets of crime at famous tourist destinations around the world.

In a neighborhood in Paris where wealthy residents live, a Chinese man in his 20s was found dead at his home, and in Thailand, theft incidents targeting Chinese tourists have also occurred.

On the 17th (local time), French media Le Parisien reported that a Chinese national, Mr. A (25), was found dead on the 5th floor of a luxury apartment in the 16th arrondissement of Paris on the 16th.

Chinese customers lined up at the entrance of the Gucci store in Sanya CDF Mall
Photo by Yonhap News

When Mr. A could not be reached, the landlord went to check on him and discovered him dead. The landlord forcibly opened the front door and found him in the room, with his hands and feet reportedly tied to the bed at the time.

Initial police investigations revealed that parts of Mr. A’s body were mutilated, and it is presumed that he was abused until shortly before his death. The Paris police who responded to the report stated, “It appears the crime was committed with the intent to steal money.” The victim’s body was sent to the Paris Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy.

French media Le Parisien reported that a Chinese national, Mr. A, was found dead on the 5th floor of a luxury apartment in the 16th arrondissement of Paris on the 16th. [Photo by Le Parisien]

The 16th arrondissement of Paris, where the incident occurred, is known as a high-end residential area across from the Eiffel Tower with good security. This has caused growing anxiety within some Chinese expatriate communities, with concerns such as “Am I also becoming a target of crime?”

According to reports, a Chinese resident living in Paris said, “Recently, there is a growing perception in Europe that all Chinese people are wealthy in cash,” adding, “Chinese people traveling or staying long-term in Europe often engage in risky behaviors such as wearing luxury brand clothes or counting cash on the street.”

In Thailand as well... Crimes targeting Chinese are increasing

Robbery crimes targeting Chinese tourists are rampant in Pattaya, Thailand. The photo shows the crime scene.
[Photo by Weibo]

In Thailand, which was the most popular overseas tourist destination for Chinese people before COVID-19 in 2019, a recent armed robbery targeting Chinese tourists occurred.

Chinese media such as Wang Yi Wang reported on the 3rd (local time) that five armed robbers broke into the accommodation where three Chinese tourists were staying in the famous Thai tourist destination Pattaya, threatened them with weapons, and fled after stealing cash, a car, and expensive valuables.

Among the five suspects, two are Chinese nationals, and it is believed that this was a planned crime targeting tourists carrying large amounts of money while traveling in Thailand.

According to reports, the suspects, wearing masks to cover their faces, broke into the accommodation where tourists were staying. One of them threatened the victims with a handgun, while the others forcibly tied the victims with electric wires and other restraints.

The victims had their hands and feet bound and were robbed of 170,000 baht (approximately 6.67 million won) in cash, as well as mobile phones, iPads, watches, and gold rings.

The Pattaya police arrested a 28-year-old male suspect at a nearby guesthouse the day after the incident and subsequently detained a 27-year-old suspect. The police are investigating, believing the suspects may have committed additional crimes beyond this incident.