Police in Shanghai have resorted to covering gas pipes outside buildings in a residential community with oil to deter thieves, Wenhui Daily reported on Tuesday.

The community, located in Changning district and comprised of 635 households, had suffered a series of thefts, with criminals climbing gas pipes to gain entry to rooms.

In July, police officers overseeing the area decided to apply oil to the pipes in order to make them more difficult to climb.

The community did not have surveillance cameras installed to deter criminals, and had become so dissatisfied with the break-ins that they refused to pay fees for property maintenance and management.