Male and female thieves posing as "agents," Muji suffers losses
Compiled from The Paper
[2] A shop on an online shopping platform claiming to be a "brand agent" sold Muji products at a 20% discount, attracting many customers with low prices and a responsive supply service. Unexpectedly, the "brand agent" turned out to be a pair of thieves, and the so-called supply was actually theft from Muji stores. Recently, Shanghai Pudong police successfully apprehended two theft suspects.
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Case review
[3] On August 13, when a Muji store in a shopping mall in the Pudong Qiantan area of Shanghai was taking inventory, staff found several items of clothing missing and immediately reported the theft to the Pudong Public Security Bureau's Qiantan Police Station, with losses amounting to several hundred yuan.
[4] After reviewing public surveillance footage, police quickly spotted a man and a woman, tracked their movements, and thought this minor case would soon be resolved. However, the investigating officers encountered an unexpected twist they had never imagined.
"Did you steal everything in this house?" When the police knocked on the suspect's door, they were somewhat surprised to see over a thousand items of clothing and various objects stacked layer upon layer inside, all of which were Muji products. Facing the officers who came to arrest them, they even questioned, "We are brand agents, what are you police doing?" The police, who had already gathered solid evidence, arrested the two.
After being brought in, the two suspects finally revealed their "story of getting rich." The suspect Liu Moumou and his wife Zuo Moumou both had legitimate jobs. Liu had previously worked at a Muji store but left after a disagreement with the store manager, so he wanted to get back at him.
Liu was familiar with the store's shopping process and knew the "blind spots" of its security equipment. So, the couple used the brand's shopping bags they had at home to avoid surveillance cameras and successfully stole some clothing from the store.
Seeing the pile of goods at home grow larger, they came up with the idea of opening an online store, calling themselves "brand agents," and selling the brand's products at a 20% discount. Whenever customers made requests, they would visit stores on weekends and holidays to select, steal, pack, and ship items, running a thriving online business until they were caught by the police.
By the time the case was uncovered, Liu and Zuo had sold over 1,700 stolen items online in more than half a year, illegally profiting 260,000 yuan. Meanwhile, over 1,400 stolen items remained unsold in their home, with an estimated value of over 200,000 yuan according to the store. The two have been criminally detained by the Pudong police on suspicion of theft.
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
Article 264: Theft
Whoever steals public or private property in a relatively large amount, or commits theft multiple times, burglary, theft with a weapon, or pickpocketing, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or public surveillance, and shall also, or shall only, be fined; if the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and shall also be fined; if the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and shall also be fined or have property confiscated.
[1] The author's perspective
To satisfy their vengeful feelings, they repeatedly stole without restraint, which is no longer a personal grudge but has escalated to a criminal offense. This habitual theft not only infringes on the interests of Muji but also disrupts public order, as the couple sold the stolen goods at low prices, essentially profiting without investment, and disturbed the normal market economy. Their actions must be punished.
After this incident, store managers also need to heighten vigilance, regularly inspect in-store security facilities, promptly install, repair, or fill gaps in security blind spots or damaged equipment, and take preventive measures against theft. Additionally, they should periodically inventory store goods; if goods are found missing without reason and suspected of being stolen, they should promptly report to the police.
[3] On August 13, when a Muji store in a shopping mall in the Pudong Qiantan area of Shanghai was taking inventory, staff found several items of clothing missing and immediately reported the theft to the Pudong Public Security Bureau's Qiantan Police Station, with losses amounting to several hundred yuan.
[4] After reviewing public surveillance footage, police quickly spotted a man and a woman, tracked their movements, and thought this minor case would soon be resolved. However, the investigating officers encountered an unexpected twist they had never imagined.
"Did you steal everything in this house?" When the police knocked on the suspect's door, they were somewhat surprised to see over a thousand items of clothing and various objects stacked layer upon layer inside, all of which were Muji products. Facing the officers who came to arrest them, they even questioned, "We are brand agents, what are you police doing?" The police, who had already gathered solid evidence, arrested the two.
After being brought in, the two suspects finally revealed their "story of getting rich." The suspect Liu Moumou and his wife Zuo Moumou both had legitimate jobs. Liu had previously worked at a Muji store but left after a disagreement with the store manager, so he wanted to get back at him.
Liu was familiar with the store's shopping process and knew the "blind spots" of its security equipment. So, the couple used the brand's shopping bags they had at home to avoid surveillance cameras and successfully stole some clothing from the store.
Seeing the pile of goods at home grow larger, they came up with the idea of opening an online store, calling themselves "brand agents," and selling the brand's products at a 20% discount. Whenever customers made requests, they would visit stores on weekends and holidays to select, steal, pack, and ship items, running a thriving online business until they were caught by the police.
By the time the case was uncovered, Liu and Zuo had sold over 1,700 stolen items online in more than half a year, illegally profiting 260,000 yuan. Meanwhile, over 1,400 stolen items remained unsold in their home, with an estimated value of over 200,000 yuan according to the store. The two have been criminally detained by the Pudong police on suspicion of theft.
"Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China"
Article 264: Theft
Whoever steals public or private property in a relatively large amount, or commits theft multiple times, burglary, theft with a weapon, or pickpocketing, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, or public surveillance, and shall also, or shall only, be fined; if the amount is huge or there are other serious circumstances, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years, and shall also be fined; if the amount is especially huge or there are other especially serious circumstances, the offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years or life imprisonment, and shall also be fined or have property confiscated.
[1] The author's perspective
To satisfy their vengeful feelings, they repeatedly stole without restraint, which is no longer a personal grudge but has escalated to a criminal offense. This habitual theft not only infringes on the interests of Muji but also disrupts public order, as the couple sold the stolen goods at low prices, essentially profiting without investment, and disturbed the normal market economy. Their actions must be punished.
After this incident, store managers also need to heighten vigilance, regularly inspect in-store security facilities, promptly install, repair, or fill gaps in security blind spots or damaged equipment, and take preventive measures against theft. Additionally, they should periodically inventory store goods; if goods are found missing without reason and suspected of being stolen, they should promptly report to the police.
