CHINESE TAKE HARD LINE ON OIL FIELD THEFT

Public security officials in China are cracking down on oil field theft in Huabei oil field, Hebei province. As of late October, officials from the oil field's security department and other local law enforcement agencies had arrested more than 800 suspected oil and electricity thieves this year, China's Legal Daily reported.

Dec. 9, 1991

Public security officials in China are cracking down on oil field theft in Huabei oil field, Hebei province.

As of late October, officials from the oil field's security department and other local law enforcement agencies had arrested more than 800 suspected oil and electricity thieves this year, China's Legal Daily reported.

People's Public Security Journal reported more than 140,700 bbl of oil was stolen from the field last year, resulting in losses of more than $2.8 million. Increased security has cut down most of the thievery. Slightly more than 10,700 bbl of oil was stolen from the field during first quarter 1991, with losses totaling about $334,000.

More than 660 trucks used by the thieves have been confiscated, and security personnel have disconnected more than 3,500 points where locals were stealing electricity from the oil field's main power line.