Nabbed Desperado Shot in Arm for Public Security

On July 13th, Chang Hsi-ming, wanted in the armed kidnappings of many important local public figures for which he received a total of NT$500 million in ransom money, was apprehended after being shot in his Shalu Township residence in Taichung County. In the police force's first mobilization of an armored personnel carrier to batter down a door, Chang Hsi-ming and accomplice Lin Tai-heng were both shot. A Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) detective was also wounded in the exchange of fire. All three were hospitalized. Shot four times, Chang suffered injuries to internal organs, but is currently in stable condition.

Chang, on the most wanted list for many years, was involved in a series of kidnappings. In July of last year, a dramatic shootout with Kaohsiung police and failed apprehension of the criminal were captured by the media. Chang's later kidnapping of a computer game tycoon earned him top billing on Taiwan's most wanted list.

Crack law enforcement officers, large quantities of heavy equipment, surveillance equipment, and high-tech gadgetry were mobilized for this dragnet.

The police explain that nowadays, high-tech gadgetry is used to break cases. During this action, no informants or anonymous tips were employed. Traditional police work, high tech equipment, and the element of surprise were all that was used.

The police took advantage of the fact that Chang is an avid online computer game player who used WiFi to go online. After finding out his online name, the police were able to use wireless base stations and interception software to pinpoint his location.

After Chang was taken into custody, law-enforcement officials rounded up 13 individuals suspected of aiding and harboring him.

President Chen Shui-bian and Premier Frank Hsieh expressed great satisfaction at Chang's capture. CIB Commissioner Hou Yu-ji, however, stated that many of Chang's behind-the-scenes associates remain on the lam, including planners on the other side of the Taiwan Strait and contacts in central and northern Taiwan that supplied Chang with firearms and information used in his crimes. The kidnappings which Chang and his collaborators carried out were only one of the syndicate's operations. The special task force has already amas-sed leads and expects to take further action to completely wipe out the syndicate.

The task force has been highly lauded for its work leading to the capture of Chang, but some point out that the vast majority of the large quantities of powerful armaments found by police in Chang's hideaway were smuggled into the country, indicating that mobster connections on both sides of the strait are also involved. Law enforcement agencies should not make light of this; rather, they should investigate and plug up the channels used for smuggling arms into Taiwan. Otherwise, even with Chang behind bars, the quality of public security will remain cause for concern.

What's more, despite the general satisfaction felt at Chang's apprehension, most people are less concerned with high-profile felons like him than they are with crooks that affect them on a more personal level. On the increase in recent years, theft, robbery, and fraud have people living in fear and anxiety. Not solving or even ignoring minor cases could serve to em-bolden perpetrators, who after having gotten a taste, might commit even more serious crimes. Now that this high-profile criminal has been collared, it's high time to reinforce the police force to deal with these low-profile crimes. It is extremely important that crimes like theft and fraud not be neglected as they gnaw away at the fabric of public order.