'Anti-pickpocket map' for Beijing subway travelers
Xinhua, August 31, 2013
The Beijing subway map may guide passengers wherever they want to go in the city, but the producers of a new “anti-pickpocket map” hope it will ensure they arrive with all their belongings in tow.
The guide book, written by staff of the capital’s busiest subway station, Guomao, was published yesterday to help passengers deal with the notorious underground thieves.
The anti-pickpocket map offers information ranging from police warnings on which stations see most thefts, to tips by frequent subway travelers on keeping property safe.
“Pickpocketing seriously affects subway operations, especially at rush hours. We have tightened security patrols in the station, but also hope the guide book will help raise public awareness of how to deal with the thieves,” Li Runling, Party chief of Guomao Station said.
Guomao Station, a crowded interchange station in Beijing’s central business district located in the eastern part of the capital, sees an average of 450,000 passengers a day.
According to the guide book, four daily periods carry the highest risk of pickpocketing: 7:30am to 8:30am; 1pm to 3pm; 5pm to 7pm; and 9pm to the end of train operations.
Tourists and drunken passengers make easy prey.
Tips given in the book include putting your cash, credit cards, and passport in a well-zipped, properly sealed bag.
The guide book is currently only available in Guomao Station, but it will soon be introduced to nearby stations, according to Li.
Beijing’s 14 subway lines carry more than 8.5 million passengers on an average day, according to the Beijing Subway Co.
