Thieves steal dog pet from car, claims owner

Two thieves stole 90,000 yuan ($14,175) in cash and a beloved pet dog from a local resident's vehicle, allegedly using a remote control lock jammer to break into the vehicle.

A local resident, surnamed Liang, said Thursday that his Teddy Bear dog and bag containing the cash was missing from his car, which was parked at Chaoyang Joy City mall on Monday.

After he reviewed security camera footage, Liang said he saw two suspects wearing hats and sunglasses approach his car a few minutes after he and his wife left, and they appeared to open the door and the trunk without any effort.

"The use of a remote jammer seems the only explanation," said Liang.

Remote jammers are used to interfere with the signal from the car owner's own remote lock, preventing it from locking.

An anonymous police officer at Pingfang police station, Chaoyang district, confirmed they launched an investigation into the alleged theft Thursday.

"It's the first case of theft involving a jammer this year," he said, "more cases were reported maybe a year ago."

An anonymous salesman, from Sufeng Electronic Devices Company, said they provide three types of remote control jamming devices that work on 95 percent of car models. They are priced from 600-1,800 yuan, and can block the signal from up to 200 meters away.

On Thursday, Liang said the family was very upset about the missing dog, which was supposed to be the ring bearer for his forthcoming wedding celebration. The cash was to buy appliances for the couple's new home.

"The drivers should have known better. Don't leave valuable items in the car, and check the door handle to make sure the car's locked," said the officer from Pingfang police station Thursday.