Prosecutors in Zhabei District of Shanghai yesterday cited
incessant Internet surfing as a major factor in juvenile
delinquency, after handling four related cases involving 15 minors
recently.
The crimes committed by the youngsters included robbery, extortion
and abetting in burglary, according to the juvenile crime
department of the Zhabei District Prosecutor's Office.
"We found most of the delinquents had no stable income and were
addicted to surfing in Internet cafes. As a result, the cafe
charges became an excuse for them to commit crime," said Chen Yu of
the department.
In
three cases handled by Chen, all 12 suspects were 16 and 17 years
old.
Chen said the delinquents often began by extorting from younger
students and later moved on to robbery to gain more money.
For instance, two boys, surnamed Zhou and Gao, were arrested for
allegedly committing more than 10 robberies since last October, he
said.
Chen said many of their crimes took place immediately after the duo
had finished surfing and were looking for more money.
Liu Xiangbiao, Chen's colleague, told of a fourth case in which
three young men, surnamed Huang, Zuo and Gong, allegedly coerced
two timid school students to steal.
"The two boys were just Grade One students in a junior middle
school," said Liu. "The suspects picked the targets, like mobile
phone shops, clothes stores and book kiosks, then forced the boys
to steal. The trio would spend the money in hotels and restaurants
as well as Internet parlors."
Between last November and February, the boys stole property valued
at 9,000 yuan (US$1,084) for the trio, Liu said.
At
the end of February, when one of the boys refused to toe the line,
the trio stabbed him in the leg.
(Eastday.com June 4, 2003)