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Phila Siu

China’s sole police officer in Rio during the Olympic Games may be working as hard as the athletes competing, with nine Chinese citizens having been robbed in the past two weeks despite Brazil’s promise of a safe Olympics.
Shao Weimin was sent to Rio de Janeiro two months ago, where his official title is temporary police communications officer and his responsibility is to strengthen communications with the local police.
“I have been very busy and I have so much to do today,” Shao said by phone from Rio at midnight on Thursday.
Hong Kong’s Olympics hopefuls ready to fly the flag without fear as Rio proves more pleasant than promised
The Chinese community in Rio is also being more vigilant during the Olympics, as Rio’s existing high crime rate looks likely to increase with the influx of an expected 500,000 visitors from around the world.
Song Yang, China’s consul-general in Rio, said this week that nine Chinese citizens were robbed or had their belongings stolen in the past two weeks. He told the Beijing News that visitors to Rio must keep their guard up.

Chinese citizen Jacky Ye, who has been living in Rio for six months, said he felt the city has become increasingly dangerous over the past few months.
“There have always been a lot of robberies in Rio, because a lot of poor and unemployed people live here, but it has become worse recently,” said Ye, 35.
“Don’t think that you are safe if you are walking around in places with a lot of people. That’s actually more dangerous.”
Running on fear: the threats that could ruin Rio’s Olympic dream
Another Chinese citizen, Linn Deng, said she avoided going out late at night.
“I try to be careful and not stay outside till very late,” said Linn, 35.
Crime has been a perennial problem in Rio and the recent soaring unemployment rate and economic slowdown fuelled a rise in homicides in the first four months of this year. In the state of Rio, 1,715 homicides were recorded in that period, up 15 per cent year-on-year and a rate of more than 14 each day.
Statistics show there were also 21 thefts every hour during the same period.

Shao urged Chinese travellers to take care in the city to not become easy targets. He said they should only take their phones out if absolutely necessary, rather than carrying them obviously as they explore the city. He also advised against wearing expensive watches and jewellery, as many Chinese like to do.
Last week, a group of Chinese workers in Rio were robbed of their valuables, including their mobile phones, in downtown Rio.
The same week, a journalist friend of Chinese hurdler Shi Dongpeng had a bag of cameras, computers and microphones stolen from a hotel lobby by two thieves. Security footage showed a man rushing up to Shi and his friend and vomiting on them.
Shi left the lobby for the restroom to clean his shirt while his journalist friend chased the man. When they returned to the hotel lobby shortly after, the journalist’s bag had been stolen by the man’s accomplice.
Last week, a group of Chinese working in Rio were robbed of their valuables, including their mobile phones, in downtown Rio.
In the same week, a journalist friend of Chinese hurdler Shi Dongpeng had a bag of cameras, computers and microphones stolen in a hotel lobby by two thieves. Security footage showed a man rushing up to Shi and his friend and vomiting on them.
Shi left the lobby for the restroom to clean his shirt while his journalist friend chases after the man. When they returned to the hotel lobby shortly after, their bag had been stolen by another man.


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