A woman in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province recently reported to the police that gold jewelry worth over 400,000 yuan, which she had hidden at home, was stolen. According to the victim, Ms. Xu, she met a younger man named Jiang through WeChat's "Shake" feature in 2022, and the two quickly became romantically involved. They broke up a year later.

In 2023, Ms. Xu discovered that 900 grams of gold she had secretly stored at home were missing. Since she had only disclosed the hiding spot to Jiang, she confronted him immediately. Jiang admitted to the theft and promised to compensate her 500,000 yuan within three years, repeatedly begging her not to involve the police. Out of momentary soft-heartedness, Ms. Xu agreed.

Over the following three years, Jiang paid only 50,000 yuan and began making excuses to avoid further payments. Feeling she had no other choice, Ms. Xu finally decided to report the crime.

Investigations revealed that Jiang, burdened by online loan debts and financial strain, developed greed after accidentally learning about Ms. Xu's hidden gold. He stole the jewelry in multiple instances and sold it off. The money was quickly spent on repaying his loans and personal indulgences, leaving him deeper in debt.

With gold prices rising steadily in recent years, the actual value of the stolen gold now far exceeds its original worth, making Jiang's promised compensation impossible to fulfill. Currently, Jiang has been detained on suspicion of theft, and the case is under further investigation.

Police remind the public to exercise caution when forming relationships online and avoid disclosing personal financial information easily. It is advisable not to keep large amounts of cash or valuables at home. If storage is necessary, choose a secure and hidden location. In case of theft, report to the police immediately by calling 110.