Chinese man caught using chopsticks to pick pockets

A man in China has been caught carrying out his novel plan for picking the pockets of a passing cyclist.

Wang Hongbo, 32, was snapped by cameras lifting a mobile phone from a woman's pocket as she rode through the streets of Zhengzhou.

He chased the lady as she cycled through the city before using the eating device to subtly lift the handset from her clothing.

Mr Hongbo was caught out when a passer-by took photographs of the entire stunt, including him visiting a second hand shop to sell the phone.

The crafty criminal then handed himself into police after discovering his photograph had been widely published on the internet and in printed publications.

On the busy streets of China, people might feel vulnerable to pick pockets, and they have a reason to be if the actions of Mr Hongbo are replicated elsewhere, or if thieves are thinking up new and innovative ways to rob individuals of their possessions.