Dujiangyan, China ? About 20 men and women suspected of looting houses and stores in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, were paraded in front of the public as a part of efforts to tackle a burgeoning wave of looting in the aftermath of the recent massive earthquake.

The suspects were arrested Sunday and shown to the public at a large-scale shelter for quake victims in the city.

A deteriorating state of law and order has become a great concern in quake-affected areas for local authorities who are making desperate efforts to stop criminal activity.

The suspects, wearing orange uniforms, were lined up on a truck and paraded in front of the shelter area, where about 1,000 local residents are living in tents as a result of the quake.

“We’ll crack down on any criminal activity strictly,” said a senior police officer.

During the Cultural Revolution and on other occasions, suspects were often paraded in front of the public in China. The practice of such public shows of justice still lingers today, serving as a very obvious warning to the public.