China uses facial-recognition technology to dole out toilet paper (we're not kidding)

On Saturday's edition of "Pure Opelka," host Mike Opelka shared the story of China's latest attempt to stop a crime wave sweeping the communist nation -- toilet paper theft.

With toilet paper in short supply in China, some of the country's 1.3 billion citizens have been helping themselves to the free toilet found in public bathrooms in places like the popular Temple of Heaven park in Beijing.

The government's solution to blunt the outbreak of toilet paper pilferers was to install a new, high tech toilet paper distribution system...machines equipped with cameras that scan the face of the person before they enter the stall. Once the face is recognized, approximately two feet of toilet paper is dispensed.

What happens if you need more paper? Well...you can get more paper. However, the machines are programmed to wait nine minutes before delivering an additional serving of the precious paper. Depending on your situation, those nine minutes could feel like an eternity.

To see more from Mike, visit his channel on TheBlaze and listen live to “Pure Opelka” weekdays 12-3 p.m. ET, 7–10 p.m. ET & Saturdays 6–9 a.m. ET, only on TheBlaze Radio Network.