Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2107342/chinese-man-caught-stealing-coins-tossed-luck-pond
China

Chinese man caught stealing coins tossed for luck into pond

Unemployed man said he stole after struggling to find work since moving home

Police said it was not the first time the man had tried to steal from the pond. Photo: Yunnan.cn

Police have detained an unemployed man for 10 days for stealing coins tossed into a pond for good luck in southwest China, according to a news website report.

The man was caught by security staff on Wednesday at the tourist attraction in Yushui village near Lijiang in Yunnan province, Thepaper.cn reported.

He was using a 140cm-long steel tube with a magnet on the end to lift coins from the pond, according to the report.
Lucky coins at the bottom the pond. Photo: Handout
Lucky coins at the bottom the pond. Photo: Handout

He was caught clutching 7.20 yuan (US$1) in coins when stopped, but police said it was not the first time he had tried to steal from the pond.

The man, whose full name was not given, was quoted as saying he had also tried to take cash from the site earlier this month.

The man is from Hebei province in northern China and makes a living doing odd jobs.

He said he tried to steal because he had struggled to find work since moving to Lijiang in July.