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A gold shop employee in Urumqi, Xinjiang, managed to steal 45 kg of gold jewelry, valued at 18.94 million yuan ($2.66 million), by swapping the pieces with lead blocks over a span of three years. The theft, committed by a woman named Hu Hui (alias), who worked as a team leader, has sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media.
Hu’s scheme began when she accidentally failed to return gold jewelry to its original place at the end of a shift. Realizing no one noticed, she sold the pieces, driven by mounting debts and financial pressure from her boyfriend, who later encouraged her to continue. Utilizing her position and working late shifts, Hu stole gold jewelry, exchanging it with lead blocks of equal weight to avoid detection during inventory checks.
Her actions went unnoticed until April, when the shop owner, surnamed Ma, conducted a review and discovered the massive shortfall in gold. After a police investigation, Hu confessed to the crime, revealing her boyfriend’s involvement in procuring lead blocks and selling the stolen gold. The couple used the proceeds to pay off debts, invest in real estate, cars, and other personal luxuries.
The police have recovered assets worth more than 5 million yuan. The public was astounded by how Hu managed to evade detection for such an extended period, prompting debate about security measures in retail settings.
Source: Global Times
