Hunt on to find hijack accomplices
Border checkpoints are on alert for suspected accomplices of three armed robbers, who were arrested when police dramatically foiled a truck hijacking in Tsim Sha Tsui on Monday.
Police say they know the identity of the people who acted as lookouts and arranged getaway cars for the mid-morning hijack attempt in Kimberley Road, which ended when police pounced on the gun-wielding robbers, firing two shots. However, police will not say how many people are still on the wanted list.
Police last night charged the three men arrested on Monday with robbery, including the man they believe to be the mastermind. They will appear in Eastern Magistrates' Court today.
Police were also checking to see whether a stolen Lexus luxury sedan found torched in Tai Po was connected to the hijack bid. Its plates had the same numbers as the car used by the hijackers.
The Lexus was found about 10 hours after police ambushed the robbers and seized three loaded pistols. The weapons are believed to have been smuggled in from the mainland.
The weapons have been sent to the police Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau for examination.
A police source said that if the hijack had succeeded, the $10 million worth of Japanese watch components in the targeted truck would probably have been sent to the mainland, where there was strong demand for such parts.
Officers were still investigating whether the gang was linked with other recent highway robberies.
