The thieves who normally prowl the country's major railway stations hoping to prey on cash-carrying migrant workers as they return home for the holidays may have run out of luck.

The increasing popularity of bank cards is likely to limit the amount of hard currency that goes into circulation during the Spring Festival.

A 19-year-old thief caught by police at the Western Beijing Railway Station said he had picked three migrant workers' pockets in one night, but got only 36 yuan ($4.90) in cash and four bank cards, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

Railway police said they arrested 23 thieves last month. The most cash taken from any single victim was 100 yuan.

"When we caught a thief in the past, they were usually carrying thousands of yuan in stolen money. But now most of them end up with just a little cash and several cards," a police officer said.

During peak times for rail travel, migrant workers generally account for a majority of passengers. Many of them fall prey to thieves every year.

Police efforts to increase awareness of thieves and the popularity of bank cards have encouraged many migrant workers to leave their cash in their accounts when traveling.

They can use the cards to withdraw money from rural credit unions in their hometowns, far from the sticky fingers of pickpockets.

Thirteen banks in Beijing are offering bank cards specially designed for migrant workers.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2008)