Bank card robbery suspect outwitted

By Xu Fang  |   2008-10-17  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

MINHANG District prosecutors yesterday approved the arrest of a young man who was outwitted when he tried to rob a local trader.

The 21-year-old was caught after a failed bid to withdraw cash with a stolen bank card. Fei Zaolong, an Anhui Province native, was charged with robbery. His alleged accomplice, Ye Zhuanpei, is still at large.

Fei told police that he teamed up with Ye, who occasionally worked for a construction materials trader, Chen Guojin.

Since Chen appeared to be a wealthy man, the two decided to rob him, officers said. The two men went to Chen's house on July 31, and when Chen opened the door, Fei and Ye overpowered him and demanded money.

Chen said he didn't have cash at home. But when threatened with a knife, he said he gave up his bank card to Ye and a false code. Fei then went off to withdraw money from an ATM, officials said.

Chen said he conned a nervous Ye into believing that cleaners would arrive soon. He said he had to go out to the security guard's office to cancel the appointment with the cleaners. Ye believed it and followed him. But once at the guard's office, Chen locked himself in and asked the security men to hold Ye, according to prosecutors. Fei was caught when he turned up to get the correct code.