"Even Family Shouldn't Steal": Chinese Grandparents Teach Granddaughter a Lesson After She Squanders Stolen Gold Bracelet

Grandparents in China Report Granddaughter to Police for Stealing Valuables
Granddaughter Claims, "This Is a Family Matter," and Asserts Innocence
Grandparents Say, "We Reported Her to Correct Her Habit"

A case has emerged in China where an elderly couple reported their granddaughter to the police for stealing money and a gold bracelet from their home, resulting in her being sentenced to prison. During the trial, the granddaughter argued that she had simply taken “family money” and insisted her grandparents would eventually forgive her, but they ultimately refused to do so.

Granddaughter in China Sells Stolen Gold Bracelet...Grandparents Say, "This Time, We’re Following the Law"

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According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on September 9 (local time), a woman surnamed Chen from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 2,000 yuan (about 400,000 won) for stealing 20,000 yuan (about 4 million won) and a gold bracelet from her grandparents' home.

Chen reportedly took the money and the gold bracelet while her grandfather was taking a nap. She later sold the bracelet for more than 27,000 yuan (about 5.4 million won), and it is said that she spent all the money.

However, Chen denied all charges during the court proceedings. She stated, “The money I took belonged to my grandparents. They will forgive me and will not hold me responsible,” adding, “This is a family matter.”

But her grandparents felt differently. They explained that they had always been overly protective of their granddaughter, criticizing her for being lazy and wanting results without making an effort. It was also reported that this was not the first time Chen had taken valuables from their home. As their granddaughter continued to steal increasingly expensive items, the grandparents decided to pursue legal action in hopes of correcting her behavior.

Mixed Reactions to Grandparents' Response

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Once the story became public, a debate erupted on Chinese social media over the grandparents’ response. Some users supported their decision, while others felt their reaction was overly harsh. One user commented, “This could have been resolved within the family, but they forced their granddaughter into a corner and jeopardized her future.”

Such reactions appear to reflect the traditional Chinese family culture of sharing assets among relatives. In China, the family is often seen as a single unit, with parents frequently providing financial support to children regardless of age. It is also common for young couples to pool resources from both sets of parents when purchasing a home.

Meanwhile, under Chinese criminal law, those found guilty of stealing a significant amount of public or private property, or committing repeated theft, can face up to three years in prison. Even when the victim is a family member or a close relative, criminal liability may vary depending on whether the victim chooses to forgive the perpetrator.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.