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 man named Jiang, who was slightly younger than her, through the "Shake" feature on WeChat in 2022. The two quickly developed a romantic relationship but broke up a year later.

In 2023, Ms. Xu discovered that 900 grams of gold she had secretly stored at home were missing. Suspecting Jiang was responsible, as she had only disclosed the hiding spot to him, she confronted him directly. Jiang admitted to the theft and promised to compensate her 500,000 yuan within three years, repeatedly begging her not to involve the police. Ms. Xu reluctantly agreed out of sympathy.

Over the following three years, Jiang only paid 50,000 yuan and began evading further payments. Frustrated by his failure to honor the agreement, Ms. Xu eventually decided to report the crime.

Investigations revealed that Jiang, burdened by online loan debts and financial strain, stole the gold after learning of its existence. He sold the jewelry in multiple transactions and used the proceeds to repay loans and for personal expenses. However, his financial situation worsened instead of improving. With gold prices rising significantly in recent years, the actual value of the stolen gold now far exceeds the 500,000 yuan Jiang initially promised to pay.

Jiang has been detained on suspicion of theft, and the case remains under investigation. Police have advised the public to exercise caution in online relationships and avoid disclosing personal asset information. They also recommend against storing large amounts of cash or valuables at home. If theft occurs, individuals should report it to the police immediately.