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Life Guide U.S. essentials
English

If a stranger demands money from you in the wild, give it to him, don't fight, note his features, and report to the police after you get away

  • Moderate value
  • Evidence C
  • Buys life
  • Costs a little
  • Takes minutes
  • Long-term effort

In a real emergency, call 911 first, then read this.

In plain words

Give him the money, don't fight, and don't talk back. For a few hundred CNY the other person is risking the crime of robbery (抢劫罪): the sentence starts at 3 to 10 years, and 10 years or more up to the death penalty if it involves entering a home, a firearm, or serious injury or death. If he takes the money and walks away, chasing and hitting him is no longer lawful self-defense. As soon as you are away, note his build, accent, license plate and direction of escape, and call 110 (China's police number).

Cost

The cash you carry. The hard part is holding down your anger.

What you get

Life is worth more than money, and for a few hundred CNY the other person is risking a serious crime. Criminal Law (刑法) Article 263 provides that robbing public or private property by violence, coercion or other means is punished by 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine. With a firearm, entering a home, or causing serious injury or death, the sentence is 10 years or more up to the death penalty. Self-defense under Criminal Law Article 20 protects only "stopping an unlawful attack that is under way." If the other person takes the money and turns away, chasing and hitting him is no longer defense. As soon as you are away, note his build, accent, license plate and direction of escape, and call 110 (China's police number)

Notes

Graded C because there is no direct literature saying that "giving the money and not resisting is safer"; the statutes only show the other person's risk and your limits. Don't follow them to a remote place to "get the money." Don't give your phone password. Don't get into their car. Giving money first applies only when you are stopped face to face and your personal safety is threatened, and you still report to the police once you are away. Being threatened online with private photos or nude-chat recordings to extort money is the reverse: not a single yuan should be paid, see §8.32 (someone uses a hold on you to demand money). Don't count on a baton, stun device or dagger you carry, since carrying one out of the house is itself punishable, see §9.26 (don't buy a baton or stun device for self-defense).

Evidence grade
C : The author's experience or common practice, without direct literature.
Sources
  1. 全国人大 (2020 年修正). 刑法（第二十条、第二百六十三条）. https://jtgl.beijing.gov.cn/jgj/jgxx/flfg/fl/11033925/index.html（北京市公安交管局转载整合文本）

Mentioned in

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 13, tip 36. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer