Beijing

Public Safety

Violent crime is relatively rare in Beijing, but petty theft is common. Pickpockets like to target crowds, especially crowds of tourists, and grab bags and wallets, or use knives or razors to slit open bags and steal their contents.

Most crimes are handled by the Public Security Bureau, which apprehends, prosecutes, and sentences criminals. Beijing's districts have their own police jurisdictions, with a number of substations, or precincts, to each district. Crimes involving illegal drugs are prosecuted harshly.