Chapter 805: Train K323
The train K323 departs from Tianzhou City, passes through Haizhou City, and heads west into neighboring provinces, reaching Heishui City and Poplar City.
Yang Baohua has worked on this train for thirty years.
Since this train was a green passenger train labeled as 323, Yang Baohua has been working here.
In the blink of an eye, thirty years have passed, and in three to five years, Yang Baohua will reach retirement age.
In the train chief’s resting room, Yang Baohua is imparting experience to his newly recruited apprentice.
"As train police, we need to be meticulous, and also bold."
Yang Baohua takes out his phone, showing an old photo: "This was twelve years ago, during a theft case on our train."
"Look at this suspect, wearing glasses, looking quite refined, seemingly nothing suspicious."
"But look at the calluses on his right thumb and index finger. Back then, thieves used blades to cut pockets."
"They practiced using the thumb and index fingers to hold the blade."
"I spotted him immediately, just as he was about to run..."
Comparing now to back then, there hasn’t been much change in criminal activities on trains.
Pickpockets and petty thefts remain the same.
However, in the past two years, due to the prevalence of mobile payments, people carry very little cash when traveling, and theft has generally shifted from cash to items.
For example, at the intermediate stations, taking advantage of people’s distractions to move items off the train.
Especially in hard-seat carriages where passenger flow is high, and the situation is complex, such incidents frequently occur.
Yang Baohua encounters similar cases almost every month.
Having experienced many, his expertise has become enriched.
"Master, the cases you mentioned happened over a decade ago. Do you have any recent ones?"
Something recent?
Yang Baohua pondered: "Okay, then I’ll tell you about a case from last month, before you started..."
"Old Yang!"
Just as Yang Baohua was about to explain the previous case, the train chief arrived.
"Come, there’s something up!"
Seeing Chen Jiang’s serious expression, Yang Baohua understood something might be wrong.
"What’s up?"
"Just received a call from the ground. There’s a trafficker on our train."
Trafficker?
Yang Baohua was shocked.
On trains, staff habitually refer to suspected human traffickers as ’traffickers.’
In recent years, the incidence of child trafficking crimes has been relatively low. Yang Baohua had encountered such cases a few times on this train before, but not in the recent one or two years.
"Are they certain?"
Realizing the severity of the situation, Yang Baohua’s expression became solemn.
It’s not hard to catch traffickers on a train, as they can’t escape far, but ensuring the safety of children is crucial.
He once heard that another train had a similar case where the perpetrator was caught, but the child wasn’t saved.
Chen Jiang nodded affirmatively: "The case was cracked in Haizhou City. This morning, the suspect boarded our train in the hard-seat carriage."
"The train station already identified a male suspect, and the seat number for the ticket purchased is 8-carriage, seat 32."
"That’s not right! Master, 8-carriage, seat 32 is occupied by a male!"
Yang Baohua’s young apprentice suddenly spoke up.
"Oh?" Chen Jiang was taken aback: "How do you know?"
"Just now, while patrolling the train with my master, I saw it. I have an exceptionally good memory, and I clearly recall that 8-carriage, seat 32 is occupied by a female, relatively young, and she didn’t have a child."
Chen Jiang looked at Yang Baohua quizzically.
Yang Baohua acknowledged with a hum: "Liu indeed has an exceptional memory; after walking through a carriage once, he can basically recall everyone in their seats."
This is why Yang Baohua imparts all his knowledge to Liu.
Liu, although not very social, has a phenomenal memory. After patrolling once, he remembers each seat’s occupant, their gender, and physical characteristics with clarity.
"It’s possible the suspect disembarked early."
"This isn’t confirmed yet, but there’s indeed a possibility of early disembarkation."
Both had long working terms on the train, having caught traffickers two or three times, they naturally knew these people rarely bought tickets all the way to their actual destinations.
Typically, they buy tickets for destinations beyond their genuine disembarking location.
But not too far, usually within two to three stops, that’s their preferred range.
"By the way, since they’ve confirmed the suspect’s identity, have they sent over the photo?"
Yang Baohua looked at Liu beside him: "Let Liu recognize the photo, see if this person is on the train."
"Even if the suspect has gotten off, if they boarded from Haizhou City, it’s manageable. During Haizhou City’s time, Liu and I had already patrolled the car, if they really boarded, Liu should have an impression."
Chen Jiang looked to Liu: "Can you do it?"
Liu confidently nodded: "Conductor, rest assured, definitely no problem. If the suspect boarded, I’ll surely recognize them."
"Alright, come follow me, the photo has been sent to the broadcasting room."
There’s only one computer on this train, and it’s in the broadcasting room.
Over these years trains have installed wireless networks, the broadcasting room holds a laptop that communicates externally.
"We’ve left Haizhou, and it’s been over half a day now; during this time, there are... 8 stations, right?"
On the way to the broadcasting room, Yang Baohua and Chen Jiang discussed possible situations.
"Exactly 8 stations. Our train runs punctually now, and the suspect could alight at any station. But initially, stations near Haizhou City seem unlikely."
Traffickers prefer train rides.
Trains have numerous passengers, many eyes, traversing multiple stations, allowing convenient alighting options.
The randomness is considerable.
This poses many obstacles to police investigations.
Especially K-prefixed trains.
Previously, K-prefixed trains were rapid, running at the highest speed with fewer stops.
But now, with the discontinuation of slow green-passenger trains, K-prefixed trains have become the slowest in their respective routes.
Running slowly, low fares, numerous stops; these trains have become the preferred transportation for local city vendors and migrant workers.
This particular train’s route doesn’t align with current express trains.
This train passes through all county cities along the way.
In some locations, there are even township-level train stations.
This undoubtedly adds further hindrance to case solving.
"Finally, let’s review the photo; if it becomes necessary, we can organize a ticket check."
"In half an hour we reach Aries City; if needed, I’ll contact the station to temporarily halt.
"After confirming whether the suspect has alighted or is still on the train, we’ll handle other scenarios."
En route, Chen Jiang casually listed some response strategies.