Spurned wife burns 400 cell phones

updated 1:42 p.m. ET March 7, 2008

BEIJING - A spurned wife set fire to more than 400 cell phones owned by her and her husband after he walked out on their marriage, a news agency reported Friday.

The official Xinhua News Agency said the 37-year-old woman, identified only by her surname Wang, was arrested for arson.

The couple had owned a successful retail phone business in Weifang, the eastern province of Shandong.

However, their shaky relationship hit rock bottom when her husband left her on March 3, the news agency reported, citing the local Qilu Evening News.

Overcome with despair, the woman gathered up their entire stock of more than 400 new mobile phones, reportedly valued at more than $42,000, and set them on fire, before walking out of the house, the report said.

Neighbors who saw smoke coming from the house called firefighters, who quickly extinguished the blaze.

MORE FROM WIRELESS

Wireless Section Front

Dump your lover directly on voice mail Cancer center director warns of cell phone risks AT&T introduces global GPS service Sony, Samsung unite on wireless HD District bars teacher-student texting Black market iPhones big in Russia, China Review: iPhone outdoes Instinct Japan gives cautious reception to iPhone Apple sells 1 million iPhones in first 3 days Palm launches new Treo on Sprint network Wireless Section Front   Add Wireless headlines to your news reader: