Charlie dont surf
- 2012-04-10
Thanks
My experiences in china are wide and varied, like most people I would assume. I personally had nothing to do with the police on campus. Basically they were a miserable bunch, just sitting at the gates, having great difficulty in responding to a common courtesy like saying hello. There was a claim of theft from a foreign teacher who lived on the ground floor and it was reported to police. They visited the apartment and did nothing. I would have to say that I will never visit that country again, sorry but I just dont like the majority of the people. Life is short and the world is big and there are far more pleasant places to visit, without being under constant surveillance.
I have many disturbing stories to tell about my stay in that country, both my own experiences and those of my students who passed on to me some very sad stories. But as for the police. I travelled to another country during winter holidays. Prior to leaving I got some passport photos done at a local photoshop. Upon commencement of the new semester I was going through the process of getting a new work permit/visa. As you know this involves going to the local police station to get some paperwork. I was given the paperwork to check over to see if the details were correct. Instantly I recognised the photo in the top right corner. It was the same passport photo I had done 7 weeks earlier. I asked the fao how did the police get that photo as I never gave it to them. I was told that any photos I get printed at the photoshop are saved for 5 years at the shop and copies are sent to the police. I could not believe what I was hearing. That means any passport pics and any private pics are saved and given to the police. And these people wonder why they have no friends in the world.
San Migs
- 2012-04-10
Sorry, wasn't aimed at you.
Now I see what you are getting at, and that is a worry indeed.
How did it all pan out for you?
Charlie dont surf
- 2012-04-10
I never suggested you were accusing me of anything. I was simply making the point that as the police have keys to foreign teachers rooms then it is conceivable that they may very well be the thieves. Of course I was angry to find out the police had a key to my room. This implies they have the right to enter whenever they see fit to do so. I am not sure which country you come from, but in my home the police do not have keys to private home and they do not have right of entry.
San Migs
- 2012-04-09
n I found out who had keys to my room. Surprised and very angry. Those in possession of keys to my room were myself, the FAO, and the police!!!!!!!!!
Calm down!
I wasn't accusing you or anyone of anything!!! But you have caught me in a disputatious mood, so, so be it. I always subscribe to the maxim,less is more anyway. The more you carry around, the more you risk to lose. Safest place for your cash is the bank.
You leave fancy stuff like ipads and laptops on display in a flat, despite being on campus, there is no guarantees of security. There is only a key to the front gate of my room, and the school supervisor has it. With only two months left of my contract, nothing has been stolen, because I lock my bedroom each time I go out, and the only few times he has been inside was to repair my fridge and clean up my kitchen after a flood.
The only other option is live off campus, care to pay 3,000 rmb a month for a nice pad?
Charlie dont surf
- 2012-04-09
Nothing was said about a "forced entry". This implies that the crooks did not need to break-in. You may want to ask who has the spares keys to your room, you just may be surprised as I was when I found out who had keys to my room. Surprised and very angry. Those in possession of keys to my room were myself, the FAO, and the police!!!!!!!!! Thats right the police had a key to my room, but did not have keys to the rooms of the Chinese teachers. You can kiss your property goodbye.
San Migs
- 2012-04-08
the FAO, security and the thief are all in it together. Did you notice any strange behaviour when you were reporting the incident, like any people laughing together, looking away to talk with someone while in a huddle, then looking back to see if you are looking, anything like that?
I agree. I must also ask the OP,can his bedroom door be locked from the INSIDE at night. In my room I can lock myself in at night, so any would be thief would not be able just to open my bedroom door and walk right in. The building supervisor has a spare key to my front door upstairs, which does give me cause for concern, but that room it is kept in is locked and chained at night, and he only uses it when I have class if I need him to go inside to do some repair work.
I often wonder how effectual the security actually is, even with all this surveillance stuff, as at my school I have come back late and the security don't even notice, and students have indeed got out.
Best of luck to the OP! Stay safe! Keep valuables out of sight, locked inside desk drawers if necessary! Don't leave vast sums of cash in your flat, etc etc
Cheers
SMGS
xetc
- 2012-04-08
OP,
I too find it odd that it could happen on campus with 24hr security guards.
There is another, highly probably possibility - the FAO, security and the thief are all in it together. Did you notice any strange behaviour when you were reporting the incident, like any people laughing together, looking away to talk with someone while in a huddle, then looking back to see if you are looking, anything like that?