Merchant Arrested for Immersing Gold in Special Melting Liquid
Used Highly Corrosive Mixture... 5.3g Dissolved
A merchant in Zhejiang Province, China, was arrested after attempting to steal gold by disguising his actions as a gold cleaning service and melting the gold.
On November 5, multiple Chinese media outlets, including Zhonghuawang and Sina Finance, reported, "A merchant was caught after using the pretext of cleaning to steal gold and then immersing it in a specific liquid to melt it."
According to the reports, the victim, surnamed Wang, met a merchant surnamed Wei at the market who offered to clean her gold bracelet. However, after the cleaning, the bracelet felt noticeably lighter than usual, prompting Wang to immediately report the incident to the police.
When the police arrived and weighed Wang's bracelet, it was found to be 22.67 grams. The bracelet originally weighed 28 grams when Wang first purchased it. During interrogation, Wei confessed to attempting to steal the gold by using a liquid that melts gold. Zhonghuawang reported, "Wei is under suspicion of theft and has been transferred for further investigation," adding, "Additional inquiries are planned."
The liquid used by Wei in the crime is known to be a highly corrosive mixture. When gold jewelry is placed in this mixture, the gold dissolves, resulting in a reduction in weight. The surface of jewelry items such as bracelets and necklaces may develop tiny holes or become uneven.
In an interview, a police official emphasized, "Gold cleaning should be entrusted to professionals, and it is important to weigh jewelry before cleaning." The official also stressed, "Receipts should always be kept, and if any irregularities are detected, the police should be notified immediately."
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