A student in Xiangyang, Hubei, China, was left shocked after losing a phone worth more than 2,000 yuan (around RM1,240) at a shopping mall on August 11, with CCTV allegedly showing a stranger taking it.
The student, identified as Chen, was working part-time at a temporary stall at Suning Department Store during her summer break when the incident happened.
Chen said she briefly left her post to use the toilet after experiencing stomach pain following a meal. She was reportedly away for only about five minutes.
However, when she returned, she realised that her phone was missing and immediately approached the mall’s security personnel before contacting police.
After reviewing CCTV footage, Chen reportedly discovered that an unidentified man had allegedly taken the phone.
She claimed the man appeared to be familiar with the shopping mall and used a relatively obscure emergency exit to enter and leave the premises.
According to Chen, even nearby shop owners were unfamiliar with the location of the particular fire escape route, raising further questions about how the man knew about it.
Chen has since handed the complete CCTV footage to police, who are continuing their investigation and efforts to identify and locate the suspect.
