China Charlie

A weekly column about living in Dongguan, for those new to Dongguan, new to China, or anyone that likes a good story.  Written by an expat  who first came to Dongguan in 1987,  hopefully this series of articles will be both entertaining and informative.

Archives:

Welcome to China Charlie

Dongguan Driving Challenges

Fun With Air Travel in China

Vertical Speed Bumps

Language and Culture

Mobile Phones and Other Stuff

Karen Carpenter, Kenny G and the Chinese Water Torture… . .

Dan Gerous, where are you when we need  you?

Life in hotels in the “old days”, a “Moon Shot”, and the saga of the pink panties….

Was There Life After M*A*S*H

Camaraderie of Dong Guan in the “old days”.. . . 

Who's on First, China Style

Life at the Ramada/Guangzhou, Resting trucks, Dynamite, and other stuff

Is Dongguan becoming too civilized?

 Roadside Word Games, China Style

Thoughts on American Thanksgiving

The Traffic Food Chain

The effects of technology, and changes in the local expat life style . . .  .

O.K., so over the past month or so, we’ve looked at the trials and tribulations of a group of ex-amateur mechanics dealing with an ever changing technology using components designed over 150 years ago in the “Beer Capital” of the U.S.A., and also looked at the “Last Great Act of Defiance” China Style

We’ve also questioned the durability of the “screening” of the components used on this antiquated component. Why does the lettering on the keys wear off before it disappears from the most often used key (the “Backspace” or correction key).

Also, we’ve explored the changes that technology has made in our conversations, and that things you would never have heard uttered just a few years ago that are acceptable today (“mine is smaller than yours” in a conversation between two guys), and exposed the fact that hotel room thermostats do less for the room environment than the pictures on the walls (at least the pictures add some color).

While all of this has been fun for me to make my observations known, there are some changes in the local scene that we all need to be aware of, and act accordingly.

On the home page of  ”That’s Dong Guan” (that you had to see before “checking out Charlie”), for the past month or so, has been a notice that lately foreigners have become the target of “Street Crime”. These have been primarily “rideby purse and bag snatchings” (a couple of guys on a motorcycle grabbing a purse or bag while riding by), with at least one “slashing” thrown in.

Involving foreigners in this kind of thing has been going on for several years in an adjoining town, but recently it seems to be happening more often here in Dong Guan City proper. Along with it, recently the perpetrators seem to be getting bolder, stealing mobile phones and slashing (and emptying) backpacks within “security protected” business establishments, as well as out on the streets.

As foreign guests in China, we’ve been pretty well protected against this kind of thing, (as I understand it) primarily due to the penalties involved when a suspected person is caught, but it appears that the people doing this are getting bolder. We could “go on” about the level of police protection, but the fact is that Dong Guan has developed extremely fast, and along with the decent people that have settled here, we’ve acquired some “less than desirable” types also.

So what can we do to protect our selves against “Street Crime”? Below are a few suggestions

First, don’t flaunt yourself, or your belongings. Gold jewelry, expensive watches, “designer” bags and “designer” clothing (real or not), can be like neon signs for these guys. This element feels that all foreigners are “rich” and it’s not a good idea to draw any unwanted attention from them.

If you carry a bag or wear a backpack, don’t put anything in it that you can’t afford to loose (passports, I.D. cards, bank books, mobile phones, etc.).

If you have to wait for someone or use your mobile phone, find a wall or post to get your back against (it makes it easier to see who’s coming your way).

If you have bags and need to set them down, keep any that may have valuables in them at least in sight, and in contact with your body if possible. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for home delivery of large numbers of bags (I.E.: Groceries, Clothing, etc) where possible.

If you don’t have your own car, first be particularly careful if you ride a bicycle on the street. Try to use drivers that you know where ever possible, and if you have to use a taxi, make sure it’s legitimate and don’t be embarrassed to make a show of recording the license number, if you feel nervous.

If someone is intent on taking your things and threatens you, let them have what they want (usually they don’t want the possible penalties associated with causing bodily harm)-watches, jewelry, etc can be replaced.

We can’t lock ourselves up and never go out, but we can take a precautionary approach to being out and about. Remember, these folks use the element of surprise and threats to get what they want.

The quote from the movie, the “Wizard of Oz” that’s on the home page could be amended to “I don’t think this is Kansas Toto, it feels more like Detroit or Washington D.C.”.…. . . .

Until next time “Y’all have a rice week now”, and stay aware of your surroundings