The Haikou anti-pickpocket team: a photo essay

Hopefully, the shoe thieves and pickpockets have all gone home for the Chinese New Year: "Oh Daddy, another stolen Motorola phone? You shouldn't have!" Two people we know have been the victims of pickpockets in these last few weeks leading up to the Spring Festival, and we've even seen some at work by the train station.

In Haikou, Hainan, a group of people have decided to fight back. Led by 53-year-old Lao Yun, they're a group of volunteers that goes around patrolling for and stopping pickpockets. Lao Yun has a sharp eye for pickpockets, and also knows how to deal with them once he finds them. You can only join the team on a volunteer basis—there's no pay—but you do get a little badge or card that says that you are a bona fide member of the team.

You can check out the rest of the pictures here.

And is it us or does there appear to be a monkey in the attached picture?

Photo from nanfangdaily.com