Chinese builder uses scorpions to drive out residents

A Chinese real estate company has let off thousands of scorpions into an apartment complex in southern Shenzhen city to drive residents out of the building slated for demolition.

A resident surnamed Chen, in Shenzhen that borders Hong Kong, woke up early Monday morning and discovered a scorpion crawling on his body.

Chen turned on the light and was astonished to see the bedroom full of scorpions, which have a poisonous sting, local news portal Southcn.com reported.

Chen woke up his family and together they captured several hundred scorpions in his apartment.

He later learned from his neighbour that the arachnids were discovered in all apartments on the street.

A man holding a bucket was seen walking out of the office of Shenzhen Luosha Engineering Development Co, a real estate firm that will build a new project at the complex.

The man poured something from the bucket into apartment windows, a witness surnamed Li told the website.

Li later found the street was crawling with scorpions.

Police and residents spent the whole night capturing nearly 50 kilograms of scorpions.

All the apartments are scheduled to be demolished but home owners haven't signed compensation deals yet.

Residents said they suspect the developer freed the scorpions to drive them out as some buildings have already been torn down due to a tight schedule.

The developer denied it was behind the scorpion scare and also claimed to be a victim. Police are still investigating the incident.