Thief swipes cash with portable card reader

A man was arrested in Shenzhen, Guangdong province for using a portable debit card swiper to rob a woman at knifepoint while in her home.

Luohu district police detained the 28-year-old suspect on August 6 after he gained access to the victim's apartment by posing as a rent collector.

The victim, surnamed Chen, suffered a cut on her hand in the struggle before the suspect bound her hands, said the report.

The unnamed suspect robbed Chen of her cash before swiping 2,000 yuan ($325) from her debit card with a portable card reader.

He also forced Chen to sign an IOU promising to transfer another 52,000 yuan to him the next day.

Police said the suspect is unemployed and resorted to theft to repay an outstanding 100,000-yuan debt.

The suspect told officers he had targeted Chen after she had posted an ad online for an apartment.