New high - tech companies hope to curb the spread of thefts on China 's streets . More than 1000 manhole covers stolen in Beijing over a 10-year period . Authorities previously tried chaining them to lamp posts to prevent thefts . But people dismiss the idea as ' stupid ' because they just cut the chains .
New high-tech covers hope to curb the number of thefts on China 's streets . More than 240,000 manhole covers stolen in Beijing over a 10-year period . Authorities previously tried chaining them to lamp posts to prevent thefts . But people derided the idea as 'stupid ' because thieves just cut the chains .