A teenager addicted to computer games colluded with friends to steal and sell his family's car to raise money for his habit in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

Guo Liang (not his real name) spent large sums of money in Internet cafes. He sold the family's computer without his parents' consent to finance his addiction and then, fearing punishment, ran away and lived in a small hotel with several friends.

A friend surnamed Chen suggested they steal and sell Guo's relatives' car.

Chen drove the car away alone after Guo let him in his home to steal the key. But Chen wanted to keep all the money made from selling the car and turned off his cell phone so Guo could not find him.

Guo had to call the police who arrested Chen and all the accomplices. They were recently sentenced to up to six and half years in jail.

(China Daily January 12, 2009)