'Face-changing' thief nabbed in Shandong

Lang's masks Photo: Qingdao Evening News

Parts of Lang's masks Photo: Qingdao Evening News

A man in Jiaozhou, Shandong Province who local police are calling a master of disguise was detained in connection with a string of construction site thefts.

Jiaozhou police said they caught the suspect surnamed Lang while he was staking out his next hit, Qingdao Evening News reported on July 8. Lang was detained for over 20 counts of stealing cable from construction sites and empty homes since July 2012, losses totaling over 40,000 yuan ($6,520).

Officers later found five realistic-looking masks in the suspect's room - two latex masks purchased for 500 yuan and three other homemade masks made from pigskin – which he used to disguise himself as a construction worker to enter the sites.

Lang explained he had learned about the masks online, and had spent all his money on high-end mobile phones and internet access in order to "update his stealing skills."