Disguised burglars make off with HK$2m
Three suspects were arrested last night in connection with a burglary in which two men were seen dressed as building workers climbing into the Tuen Mun home of a local businesswoman, then fleeing with a safe containing HK$2 million of valuables.
Three suspects were arrested last night in connection with a burglary in which two men were seen dressed as building workers climbing into the Tuen Mun home of a local businesswoman, then fleeing with a safe containing HK$2 million of valuables.
A neighbour saw the men scaling the surrounding wall of Villa Pinada around 7pm on Sunday, wearing safety helmets and reflective vests, but did not call police as he was duped by the disguises, police said yesterday.
The businesswoman, her husband, two children and a foreign domestic helper live in a ground-floor flat in the luxury low-rise development at Hong Po Road. Police said they were not home at the time of the break-in.
After climbing the wall, the men opened an unlocked sliding glass door to enter the apartment, an investigator said.
The intruders then ransacked the flat and stole a 30cm by 60cm safe hidden in a wardrobe in the master bedroom.
The officer said the safe contained HK$2 million worth of jewellery and luxury watches. Two of the watches together were worth about HK$500,000.
Police were called in at about 10.30pm when the family returned home.
Officers stopped three men, aged 47 to 55, in a car near Tuen Tsz Wai shortly afterwards. They were arrested and detained. The safe and some tools were found in the car, police said.
It was the second burglary in the private estate in a month. More than HK$10,000 in cash and valuables were stolen from another apartment last month. The New Territories North regional crime unit is investigating whether the two cases are linked.
There were 4,214 reports of burglary in Hong Kong last year, down from 4,382 in 2011.
