Woman rescued after ordering food delivery from police

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A Chinese woman who was trapped by her Internet lover was rescued when she pretended to call for food delivery, but dialed 110 to contact police instead.

Last Wednesday, a 110 operator from central China’s Henan Province received a “prank call” from a woman, who repeatedly demanded takeout food.

According to the police recording later publicized on China’s social media platforms, the woman, who was later identified as 20-year-old Li Mengjiao, sought rescue after she persuaded the abductor to let her order food delivery, CCTV.com reported.

A woman in central China's Henan Province pretended to order delivery, but called the police for help instead. /VCG Photo

“Will you send me some food?” Li said abruptly after a police operator answered the emergency phone call.

“This is the 110 emergency help line,” the operator Zhang Shujuan replied, initially thinking she was receiving another prank call. “If you want takeout food, order from a food delivery service. We cannot deliver food for you.”

“I know, I know,” Li repeated with her voice raised. “I know. I want nothing else. I cannot go out.”

It took a few seconds for Zhang to realize that the “prank” was a serious call for help. “Oh. Tell me, where should we send the food?"

A "prank call" to the police led to a successful rescue. /VCG Photo

Li then gave her location, name and a brief description of her appearance to the operator.

“There’s someone else with you, correct? Are you being held against your will?” the police operator asked.

“Yes,” the woman confirmed. “I cannot go out. If I could go out, I wouldn’t be calling you for delivery.” She then asked twice, “When can you be here?”

"We will arrive as soon as possible," Zhang said.

After noting the woman’s details, Zhang soon reported the case to local police station. Li was later rescued.

According to the police investigation, Li was held against her will by a man she met online. The Internet lover promised Li a job opportunity, asked her to meet offline and ended up kidnapping her.

It is not the first time a “prank call” has led to a successful rescue. Back in 2014, a woman in the US was saved from domestic abuse after she tried to order pizza with 911. When police officers arrived at the scene, they discovered she had been beaten up by her drunk husband before contacting them for help.