Taichung, Taiwan – July 5, 2025 — As gold prices continue to surge, incidents involving gold-related crimes are on the rise across Taiwan. In a recent case, a brazen robbery occurred in broad daylight at the ASEAN Plaza in Taichung’s Central District, where a woman was violently robbed of her gold necklace.
At around 6:00 p.m. on July 4, a 41-year-old man surnamed Xu targeted an Indonesian migrant worker, ripping a gold necklace from her neck as she passed by ASEAN Light Field, a busy area near the plaza. The shocking incident unfolded in public, drawing immediate attention.
Fortunately, a quick-acting security guard surnamed Shao, stationed nearby, heard the victim’s screams and quickly sprang into action. He chased Xu through the streets, eventually catching up with him at Lane 90, Chenggong Road, where he successfully subdued the suspect and detained him until police arrived.
Victim Still in Shock
According to the Taichung First Police Precinct, Xu had been lurking around the plaza and admitted that he acted on impulse, deciding to commit the robbery after spotting the woman’s gold jewelry. The stolen necklace, valued at approximately 12,000 New Taiwan Dollars, was retrieved following his arrest.
The victim, who was left shaken and frightened by the incident, reported that she had no time to react when the necklace was snatched. Despite the emotional distress, she suffered no physical injuries.
Legal Action Underway
The suspect was taken into custody and transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutor’s Office for investigation on suspicion of robbery. Authorities praised the security guard for his swift response, which prevented the suspect from escaping and possibly targeting others.
With the increasing value of gold, law enforcement has urged the public to stay vigilant, particularly in crowded areas, as both fraud and street-level robberies involving gold jewelry are on the rise.
