“There is a scrap collection bin behind our production line

Originally, copper scrap would naturally fall from a height

and form a pointed ‘pyramid’ shape

However, on several occasions, the surface of the scrap pile was relatively flat

and looked as if it had been disturbed by someone”

said Zhou (pseudonym), the company’s safety specialist

After noticing this phenomenon

the company immediately retrieved surveillance footage from the workshop

and found that in mid-May this year

an employee had appeared in the workshop after all workshop personnel had finished work

appeared in the scrap collection area

rummaged around for a while

and left holding a blue plastic basket

However, because the surveillance camera was installed relatively far away

it was difficult to identify the person

so they immediately sought help from the “enterprise-based police liaison officer”

Wu Huiwen, a police officer from the Luoshe Police Station

▲ Scene of an employee stealing scrap copper chips

After receiving the report

the Luoshe Police Station quickly organized police forces to launch an investigation

By reviewing and sorting through the company’s surveillance videos

the police initially confirmed

the identity information of the suspect, Li (surname anonymized)

as well as the pattern of the offenses

Just as the police were preparing to carry out an arrest operation

under pressure

Li went to the Luoshe Police Station that evening

and voluntarily surrendered

▲ Police officer Zhou Hao and colleagues analyze and assess the case

Case-handling police officer Zhou Hao

By reviewing and sorting through the company’s surveillance videos

the police found that the number of offenses committed by the suspect

far exceeded what the company had initially known

“At first, we thought there had only been one or two incidents

but based on Li’s account transaction records

we found that as early as January this year

he had already begun transactions with a scrap recycling station”

According to Li’s statement

from January 2026 to May 31

he repeatedly took advantage of the time after employees had finished work

to commit theft while carrying out cleanup work alone

taking some scrap copper chips out of the scrap bin

putting them into the backpack he carried with him

temporarily storing them in the trunk of his car

and when he had accumulated a relatively large amount

selling them at a scrap recycling station

▲ The scrap recycling station where Li sold scrap copper chips

The day after Li surrendered

based on his statement

the police recovered the latest batch of unprocessed copper scrap

at the scrap recycling station he often visited

After weighing

the batch of scrap weighed about 60 kilograms

with an estimated market value of about 5000 yuan

▲ Unprocessed copper scrap at the scrap recycling station

After investigation, the Luoshe Police Stationfound

that from January to the end of May this year

Li had conducted more than 10 transactions in total

all involving the sale of stolen scrap copper chips

with each sale of stolen goods ranging from 3000 yuan to 9000 yuan

and the highest single transaction once exceeding 10000 yuan

According to preliminary calculations

Li made approximately 89000 yuan in illegal profits over five months

At present

Li has been suspected of the crime of occupational embezzlement

and has been subjected by the Deqing County Public Security Bureau

to criminal coercive measures in accordance with the law

The case is under further investigation