DNA test identifies motorcycle thief

A DNA test on saliva left on a discarded plastic water bottle has led to the capture of a motorcycle thief in north China, local police said on Sunday.

The suspect, surnamed Wang, has been put under criminal detention by police officers in Xinjiang County of Shanxi Province on a charge of theft.

Security camera footage showed a man stealing a motorcycle from a middle school in Xinjiang at the end of July. He fled the scene but left a water bottle behind.

The DNA test helped police to track the suspect, who served two years and six months in jail three years ago for theft.

According to police, Wang confessed that he sold the motorcycle to a 25-year-old man named Li, who he met in jail, for 300 yuan (49 U.S. dollars).

Li has also been detained.

Police said Wang confessed that he was behind a series of thefts of motorcycles and electric bikes in Xinjiang County.