A case of a stolen gas cylinder in Greater Taichung ended after a man turned himself in to police on Wednesday last week, leading to an outpouring of goodwill toward the alleged thief and his family.
The incident started when a drinks stall owner, Tsai Yu-pang (蔡裕榜), discovered that a gas cylinder had gone missing on the evening of Dec. 25 last year.
Tsai did not report the missing cylinder to the police, but posted a notice in front of his store that read: “Whoever stole it, please return the empty container after you have finished with it.”
The Chinese-language Liberty Times (sister newspaper of the Taipei Times) reported the incident at the time, and Tsai was surprised when local police contacted him last week saying that a 33-year-old man, surnamed Chen (陳), had turned himself in and had brought an empty gas cylinder.
At the police station, Chen confessed that he took the gas container from Tsai’s store.
“The cold snap hit in December, and my family with our two little boys had not had a hot shower for many days, nor did we have gas to cook meals,” Chen said.
Chen said that he began to worry when he saw media coverage of the story, including television reports with surveillance videos showing him in the act of taking the cylinder.
He added that his wife had upbraided him over the theft and he decided to turn himself in.
Chen apologized to Tsai, who immediately gave the family NT$2,000 and ordered a full gas container to be sent to Chen’s residence.
The police officer let Chen go after filing a report. However, the case would still be taken up by prosecutors. Tsai said.
“I do not want to press charges, but theft is an indictable offense, I just hope the judge will be lenient with him,” Tsai said.
As news spread of the Chens’ hardship, people pitched in to help.
The head of Zhengyi Borough Police Precinct, Chia Chang-hua (賈昌驊), donated a box of instant noodles, and a local borough warden, Liang Ho Pi-chiao (梁何碧嬌), gave the family two large bags of groceries.
On Friday last week, another person donated 10 gas cylinders to the family.
Chen broke down in tears on Friday after learning of the kindness that had poured in.
The first report in the Liberty Times appeared to have come just in time, as Chen later revealed that at the time he was contemplating suicide.
“I am head of the household, but I could not feed my wife and kids,” he said.
“I had initially planned to buy charcoal to commit suicide [by carbon monoxide poisoning] after the [stolen] gas container ran empty,” Chen added.
“I see people providing assistance and warmth in this cold winter that I am so grateful and I am now determined to find the strength and courage to go on living,” Chen said.
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