During a bank robbery in Guangzhou, China, the robber calmly announced, “Don’t move. The money belongs to the state. Your life belongs to you.” Everyone complied instantly—an example of psychological control through reframing. When one woman behaved provocatively, the robber snapped, “Be professional—this is a robbery, not a crime of that kind,” showing strict focus on his role.
Later, the younger robber wanted to count the cash, but the older one refused. “Why bother?” he said. “The news will tell us how much we took.” This highlighted the power of experience over formal education.
After the robbers left, the bank supervisor delayed calling police, secretly adding stolen money to funds already embezzled. He even joked that a robbery every month would be convenient—turning crisis into opportunity.
The next day, news reported $100 million stolen. The robbers discovered they had only $20 million. Furious, they realized the bank insiders had taken far more—without risk. Meanwhile, the bank manager celebrated, using the robbery to cover stock market losses.
Lesson: In the real world, the most dangerous thieves often wear suits, not masks.
So—who are the real robbers?
