Four Men Stole 13 Tons of Shared Bikes in Eight Days to Sell as Scrap, Only to Lose Money and Get Ar

XI'AN, China —Four men in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, have been detained on suspicion of theft after allegedly stealing more than 300 shared bicycles over eight days and selling them as scrap metal.

The suspects reportedly stole around 13 metric tons of shared bikes operated by three different companies. They rented a truck and a warehouse, hired accomplices and removed tracking devices from the bicycles before selling them as scrap. Despite the elaborate operation, the group failed to make a profit and ended up losing money after expenses were taken into account.

The Plan Began Over a “Quick Money” Idea

According to reports, the scheme began in August when a man identified as Liu heard people discussing difficulties facing the shared-bike industry.

Liu allegedly came up with the idea of stealing shared bicycles, dismantling them and selling them as scrap metal. He then recruited three friends who had no stable employment and persuaded them to join the scheme.

To prepare for the operation, Liu borrowed money to rent a small truck for transportation and rented a warehouse on the outskirts of Xi’an where the stolen bicycles could be stored and dismantled.

He also reportedly promised each of the three accomplices a daily payment of 500 yuan.

With the transportation, storage and manpower arrangements in place, the four men began carrying out their plan at night.

More Than 300 Bikes Stolen in Eight Days

Over an eight-day period, the group allegedly moved around different parts of Xi’an at night and targeted shared bicycles parked along the streets.

Police said the suspects stole more than 300 bicycles belonging to three shared-bike operators, with the total weight reaching approximately 13 tons.

The bicycles were then transported to the rented warehouse. The suspects allegedly removed tracking devices before attempting to sell the vehicles as scrap metal.

They reportedly posed as employees of shared-bike companies and sold the bicycles for around 4,000 yuan per ton. The transactions generated more than 50,000 yuan in total revenue.

The “Profitable” Scheme Actually Lost Money

The group apparently expected the stolen bicycles to generate easy profits.

However, once Liu calculated the expenses involved, the economics of the operation quickly fell apart.

Truck rental, warehouse rent, payments to the accomplices and labor costs associated with dismantling the bicycles consumed the proceeds from the scrap sales. After those expenses were deducted, the group had not only failed to make money but had actually lost money.

By the time the suspects were considering how to cover their losses, police had already traced the relevant leads and identified the members of the group.

Four Suspects Detained

Liu and the other three suspects have been placed under criminal compulsory measures by Xi’an Economic and Technological Development Zone police on suspicion of theft, according to reports. The case remains subject to further legal proceedings.

Police have warned that shared bicycles remain the property of their operating companies even when they are parked in public areas. Removing, dismantling or selling the bicycles without authorization may constitute a criminal offense.

The case also highlights the challenges faced by shared-mobility operators in protecting large numbers of vehicles distributed throughout urban areas. Stronger vehicle inspections, tracking systems and anti-theft measures can help operators detect abnormal movements and respond to theft more quickly.

For the four suspects, what was intended to be a quick-money scheme ultimately resulted in financial losses and criminal detention.