Gleanings Of The 2012 Beijing Auto Show: Victimized Media

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Sometimes, journalists are in the pockets of people. This time, people are in the pockets of journalists: More than 40 theft cases were reported in the first hours of the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

Pricy equipment was stolen at an alarming rate, reports Global Times. High on the target list of show-going pickpockets: High-end camera lenses that fetch a high price on the used market.

“The first two days of Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which opened Monday, were reserved for members of the media, with the public being admitted from today until May 2,“ says Global Times. Nevertheless, around 40,000 people showed up on the first day, the paper figures. We have first-hand confirmation that the show was mobbed, and we doubt that the majority was working media.

Says Global Times: “Some attendees have accused the expo of having lax security, which is unable to cope with the crowds, and media have reported that passes for the expo are easily available from scalpers.”

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Jimbowski Jimbowski on Apr 26, 2012

    I thought the t-shirt over the face was only an American jail officer trick? Also, nice angle on the lady paying them no attention while being taller than everyone else in the picture.

    • See 2 previous
    • Daveainchina Daveainchina on Apr 26, 2012

      @daveainchina By size? I didn't know that. Bertel the jokes that you can have with that one.

  • Ronnie Schreiber Ronnie Schreiber on Apr 26, 2012

    Sounds like there was tighter security at the SAE World Congress at Cobo in Detroit than at the Beijing Auto Show media preview. There were at least three private K-9 teams working the exhibitors' area.

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