Cloudy in Beijing Blogging about my time in China

At Starbucks…

I think I just saw a crime take place.

I was sitting at the Starbucks next to the window. Suddenly a man runs out of the store, followed by a woman several steps behind. I thought that maybe they were together, but the young man continued sprinting, leaving the woman behind. Then three Starbucks staff members rushed out, trying to follow.

I later found it was indeed a xiaotou ??, or a thief. An hour later a Starbucks staff member told me to watchout for my coat I had laying nearby since apparently there are many xiaotuo at the store. I remember looking at the thief's face as he ran out. He was young, maybe 20, 21. No emotion at all, only a listless look, like this was just business.

I've been lucky so far, and haven't fallen prey to them yet. Another foreign teacher I know hasn't been so fortunate. Apparently he has had two bicycles stolen from in just a year and half. "They say that you are a true Chinese when you have two bikes stolen from you," he added.