The store manager looked like she was easy to talk to.
The other staff at the counter stepped forward and gave their views.
âPreviously, a thief came to our shop to steal jewelry. We caught him on the spot and called the police. Because the amount involved was huge, he was sentenced to seven years. Bulgariâs items are not cheap!â
The store manager quickly added, âThis sapphire ring is worth more than 900,000. The amount involved is huge, so you have to consider carefully!â
Liang Yin showed no fear. âI didnât take it. Just call the police. If they find out that youâre the ones who slandered me, I will go through legal procedures and sue you for violating my rights and interests!â
When the staff who had served her earlier heard this, she was furious and blurted out, âHeh, who are you trying to scare?! Are you saying we wronged you?! Donât be calling too big a bluff!â
One of the staff from Chanel next door came over and tugged at her sleeve. âShe doesnât look the least bit guilty to me. Could you be wrongfully accusing someone?â
âNot guilty? Itâs all an act! You didnât see her earlier on. If we hadnât stopped her, sheâd have walked away! If it wasnât guilt, what was it?â
âUhâ¦â
âBesides, you didnât see the way she shook when she heard we were going to conduct a body search. If that wasnât guilt, what was?â
A moment later the police arrived. There would usually be police stationed next to a mall. Five minutes after calling the police, they arrived. Upon seeing the officers, the shop assistants immediately went up to them and gave a concise account of the situation.
âShe stole a gemstone ring from our counter.â
Liang Yin was furious. âI did not!â
There were two officers who had arrived at the scene, one was responsible for videotaping the scene; the other one was responsible for taking statements.
The police officer came over and pointed the video device at her. The other one demanded, âThey say you stole something?â
âAre you going to tell me you need to search me?â
The officer smiled, still relatively friendly. âNo we wonât do that! We donât have a search warrant with us. Weâre not entitled to carry out a body search.â
Liang pursed her lips at that. âThank you!â
The shop staff protested when they heard this, âSheâs been the only customer in the shop, Officer. Thereâs no one else. She must have stolen it!â
âI saw the sapphire ring before she got here. But now, itâs gone.â
âDonât the police have the right to call for the surveillance footage?â
Liang Yin paused and asked, âThere must be a surveillance camera at this counter, right? Weâll find out the truth if we go through the footage?â
The store staff started to get anxious. âYouâre just too guilty to let us carry out a search!â
Liang Yin said loudly, âGet this straight. Itâs not that I feel guilty, rather, the fact is that you donât have the right to do so!â
âAll right! Stop arguing!â The policeman saw that they were getting heated up. He asked the shop staff, âHave you checked carefully? Could it have been put away or something? Most people wouldnât dare reach out for something so expensive!â
âWe checked. The item is gone.â
âAlright, weâll go to the surveillance room and retrieve the video then!â
None of the store staff or manager had any objections. So the policemen led the store manager and Liang Yin to the surveillance room in the mall. They entered the room and showed their police IDs. The policemen then instructed security to provide the surveillance footage from the Bulgari counter and set the time to when Liang entered the counter. They looked at it frame by frame.
Five minutes after Liang Yin entered the counter, she walked over to cabinet A, opened it, and carefully put on a velvet glove. She picked up the sapphire ring and looked at it.