A brave young man grabbed a pickpocket on a bus, but none of the passengers would help him by calling police, according to the thief's intended victim, Shanghai Morning Post reports.

The 60-something Hua was riding on a bus when she discovered that her bag, which contained 3,000 yuan (US$360), had been opened. But a young male passenger caught the thief red-handed and held onto him.

"Call the police," he cried out, but no one on the bus lifted a finger.

The young man ended up clumsily dialling police on his mobile with his free hand.

When Hua asked the driver to go to the nearest police station, some people even asked the driver to open the door and let them off first.

Close