Crime in Dongguan

[Ian_Lee]

Crime in Dongguan -- the "Silicon Valley" of China with high concentration of Taiwan and HK businessmen -- is completely out of control:

http://news.chinatimes.com/Chinatimes/newslist/newslist-content/0,3546,110505+112005110900102,00.html

Now even CCTV is making special report about the crime in Dongguan.

According to HK newspaper Hong Kong Economic Times, there are several measures that Taiwan and HK businessmen can adopt:

(1) You must carry a lot of cash when you go out. So whenever you are robbed, you have enough cash to satisfy the robbers' appetite.

(2) Don't go out in the night time -- especially hangouts like niteclub or karaoke.

(3) Don't go out alone -- especially strolling on quiet street.

(4) Always change your schedule and route on commute to work.

(5) Never have a fixed route or schedule in carrying valuables to banks.

(6) Never get out of your car in a traffic accident unless somebody is hurt.

(7) If possible, don't reside in Mainland but HK.

The newspaper further said that one of the causes of the rampant crime is that the law is too lax. Some criminals have robbed for over 100 times before they are caught and some others were merely detained and then released.

Some posters in internet chatroom sighed that in all other places, the thieves are hiding. But in Dongguan, it is the innocent civilians that are hiding. (Looks like the scene in "Kung Fu Hrstle"!)

[Celso Pin]

(1) You must carry a lot of cash when you go out. So whenever you are robbed, you have enough cash to satisfy the robbers' appetite.

A kind of stupid advice... maybe written by criminals...

(2) Don't go out in the night time -- especially hangouts like niteclub or karaoke.

Another stupid one... could be replaced by "dont go out. period"

(3) Don't go out alone -- especially strolling on quiet street.

see number 2

(4) Always change your schedule and route on commute to work.

is it possible ever?

(5) Never have a fixed route or schedule in carrying valuables to banks.

it is not a variant of 4????

(6) Never get out of your car in a traffic accident unless somebody is hurt.

How do you know somebody is really hurt or pretending?????

(7) If possible, don't reside in Mainland but HK.

Maybe a paid publicity from HK local government.... maybe the intent is another (economic?)... from where is the newspaper???? HK is really safe as this newspaper advertise?????

It seems, the journalist is very inexperient in travelling ( specially business travelling) or... is a believer and believe in stories (exagerated) from someone...

In every country in the world, there are cities with "go" and "not to go" places... since these places are not obvious to foreigns, they are "natural targets". I have seen in big cities in US and UK, neighboorhoods where u have to pay "toll or a contribuition" to pass...

Why should we try to restrict the situation to mainland??????? I think is EXTREMELLY stupid to say "If possible, don't reside in Mainland but HK"... How to put 1,3 billion in HK????

[Ian_Lee]

Hong Kong Economic Times is hardly any tabloid newspaper. It has many reporters stationed in Mainland since the '80s.

But I know many people (including myself) usually bring more than enough cash and leave credit cards and bank cards in HK before they go up to Shenzhen or Dongguan.

Why the need to bring extra cash? To avoid being stabbed in case the thief whom mugged you got angry for not harvesting enough from the victim.

Well, of course other cities like Shanghai or Beijing are much better in terms of law and order.

But in some places in Guangdong, it looks like they have become the Wild West or pre-'49 Shanghai.

[tluroc76]

I was just on a biz trip to DongGuan and was warned of possible robbery, luckily I didn't experience or witness any. I don't think it was that long ago that Taiwanese investors were targeted for kidnapping/ransom.

I remembered quite a few cases took place in ShenZhen and DongGuan. The vendor we visited built a three house inside his own factory, guards spreaded around the facility and the house has double steel door at the front and back entrances.

The riches get richer and the poors struggle day after day. We (6 of us from US) wined and dined in some of the finest places in town, like the Metropolitan Yiking Hotel, Good View, etc. Most of the factory workers on the other hand, never even tasted a McD's burger.

Being Chinese myself this trip left me with a lot to pounder. Although I came from a humble beginning but now I have a nice home in the suburb and not really have to worry about the cost of living (yet). Here I am, making a decent living working less than 50 hrs a week in a climate controlled environment. While factory workers put in 10+ hrs a day, 6 days a week out in the open, hot or cold, making barely enough for selves and still try to send money home for the folks.

Sorry I drifted from the topic.

[yinduren]

Hiya

Wow all these mixed views about Dongguan. I have just been offered to work for a supplier (UK based company)in Guangzhou and Dongguan. I have been told its not a very safe area from some Chinese friends. My friend from Shanghai told me her class mate was stabbed in a bar because they didnt like the look of him. I dont know how much if this is true. I really want this job but if its not as safe as your making it out to be, I am not sure I want to go...

I guess I wont be running out doors then...I run 30miles a week and was hoping to continue that...er...maybe not!! I guess its even worse for a girl to go alone.

Im so lost in what I should do arghhhhhhh!!!!!!

[flameproof]

yinduren

Running you give up anyway, or you train with an oxygen bottle. The air quality is just too bad.

I suggest: keep a low profile

Chinese and Taiwanese often have a "show off" mentality which makes them an easy target. By know many Chinese know already that not all foreigners are rich, and if you are, don't show it.

And: If you don't know how to mingle with the locals, then don't. But in that respect China is not as bad as Philippines or Thailand, were people get killed much easier.

[yinduren]

wow really!! what are they like to Indian people (thats me) Thank you for your reply, I need someone to give me some advise.

I will be there for 3 months or less at this rate. I have been to bigger cities in China but I have been warned of Dongguan, Shenzen and Guangzhou. I want this job for the experience but not if I am going to be locked in my room scared. Another girl has gone and she is fine, so she says.

I guess I will leave my designer bags at home hehehe and dress like a gypo when I go. I hope I can find a good gym instead of running for my life hehehehe! Do u know any?

Il just go to work and come back to the apartment. I guess no shopping and site seeing alone then.....what has it been like for you?

I am going alone and my Fiance and folks are so worried bout me going. Do you think im better off in Shanghai?

[flameproof]

yinduren

I am not Chinese and don't plan to become one. I feel generally safe and travel A LOT in that area, often with low end forms of transport, like local buses.

Just make sure that valuables are not seen. That is namely your purse and your phone. I don't carry a purse, and my small phone is always in my front pocket.

One thing you can maybe do: get a cheap purse, fill it with some useless (credit, shopping ect.) cards (should not show Chinese) and a bunch of old currency (time to get rid of my old rubles). Then you have something to give in case of a mugging.

Also, you are target when your are "disabled". That can be drunk, or immobile (because i.e. of luggage). The key is not to carry too many things that you don't want to lose.

[yinduren]

hey thanks for that. The company also has offices in Taiwan, have you ever been there?

I know I am probably making myself think of bad things because of what I have read and been told....I dont know...I am a little lost in what to do. I really want this job but the area is the only downside.

Thanks again

[Han Zhi You]

All what has been said is true. Don't show your weath, keep anything on your bag/pocket wich has any value (camera, phone, wallet) on a public place. Have some small money on pocket if somebody holds up an knife on you, give that first. Don't carry too much money otherwise, unless you can hide it (moneybelt-wallet) well.

Keep track of things, almost like in Airport.

Air is very polluted, so running is out of the question in the downtown specially.

And, don't look like tourist without a clue what you're doing.