Thief caught on camera using chopsticks to pickpocket

A man in China has been caught on camera using chopsticks to pickpocket a woman shopper in a brazen attempt at theft.

In the footage captured by a CCTV security camera, a woman is approached from behind by a thief who grabs her mobile phone out of her white full-length coat using the wooden utensils.

The thief can be seen expertly sifting through his victim’s coat to grab her mobile phone between the chopsticks before placing it in a white handkerchief and walking away.

Police in China believe a gang of thieves are targeting busy shoppers, especially women carrying heavy shopping bags, by carefully prising items with chopsticks.

Though the theft takes place in the full view of the camera, the use of chopsticks means there are no fingerprints left behind.


Passers-by refuse to intervene as a man uses his chopstick to rob a woman in broad daylight. Photo: YouTube.
Passers-by refuse to intervene as a man uses his chopstick to rob a woman in broad daylight. Photo: YouTube.

The Daily Mail reports the theft takes place in front of thousands of passers-by who refuse to intervene.

While it is unclear where the chopstick thieves were when they were captured on camera, but the trend is thought to have taken place in several Chinese cities.

A witness, quoted in The Sun newspaper, said: "It's so obvious what the gang are doing but no one does anything.

"This gang knows exactly what they are doing and are highly skilled”.

A Chinese shopper is unaware that the chopstick thief is stealing her belongings. Photo: YouTube
A Chinese shopper is unaware that the chopstick thief is stealing her belongings. Photo: YouTube