BEIJING, CHINA - A COMMUNIST Party official in north-eastern China has been arrested and accused of leading a bizarre double life in which he robbed celebrities at night, state press said on Wednesday.

Yu Haibin was arrested on June 2 in Siping city in Jilin province, suspected of mugging local personalities in a five-year spree that earned him the nickname 'celebrity robber', the Beijing News reported.

Police found more than 10,000 yuan (S$1,980 dollars) at Yu's home and said he is suspected in a least 10 cases.

Yu, aged in his late thirties, was a senior official of the United Front Work Department which promotes ties between the ruling Communist Party and other groups, the report said.

In May, he allegedly robbed a female television personality of cash and a mobile phone.

Police nabbed Yu after tracking calls from the phone and monitoring the serial numbers of cash bills he allegedly stole from another victim in February, the report said.

'According to those familiar with the case, all of his victims have been well-known local celebrities,' it said, adding that psychologists were assessing whether Yu had a mental disorder. -- AFP