Detective Novel Method Recreated in Real Life
Deducing Keypad Numbers Using Chalk Powder
Four Students Disciplined for Violating Cellphone Policy
School: "Focus on the Act of Theft"
A female middle school student in China who enjoyed reading detective novels has drawn attention after it was revealed that she recreated a method from a novel in real life to discover the password to a cellphone locker.
On December 30, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on an incident that occurred in November of the previous year at a boarding middle school in China. A female student, referred to as A, discovered the password to the cellphone storage locker installed in her classroom using a method inspired by a detective novel. She lightly dusted the locker keypad with chalk powder to identify which numbers had fingerprints, allowing her to deduce the password combination. Afterward, three other students who saw the chalk residue on the keypad also figured out the password, and together they retrieved their cellphones from the locker and brought them into the dormitory. Some students even shared the news that the locker password had been leaked via social networking services (SNS).
A, a female middle school student attending a boarding middle school, discovered the password to the cellphone storage locker installed in the classroom using a method inspired by a detective novel. Photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay
Once the incident became known, the school disciplined the four students involved according to school regulations. The school strictly prohibits the use of cellphones on campus and requires students to submit their phones to the locker upon arrival. A school official explained that the disciplinary action was not due to the deduction of the password itself, but rather because the students took their cellphones without permission. Following the incident, the school completely changed the locker passwords and relocated the lockers near the teachers' office.
After the news spread, local internet users responded with relatively lighthearted comments such as, "The effect of detective novels is impressive," "She would make a great detective," and "Reading a lot of books definitely helps." In contrast, some experts pointed out that while deductive reasoning and observational skills are positive abilities, if rules and ethical awareness are not taught alongside them, such skills can lead to problematic behavior.
Previously, in a similar case in Zhejiang Province, China in 2019, a middle school student deduced the combination to a staff room safe by observing fingerprints on the dial and managed to open it. Additionally, in 2022, a high school student in India was caught attempting to preview exam questions by analyzing blind spots in the CCTV system and the access timetable.
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