Burglar escapes with cash, jewellery from Hong Kong home of Australian consul general

Australia's consul general in Hong Kong, Paul Tighe, became the latest victim in a string of high-profile burglaries, when jewellery and several thousand dollars in cash were stolen from his official residence in Deep Water Bay yesterday.

Tighe, who arrived in the city in 2011, and his wife were at the three-storey house on Island Road when the burglary occurred in the early hours.

Officers combed the area after they were called in. So far, no one has been arrested. Police are still trying to establish the value of the stolen jewellery.

The Australian consulate confirmed the break-in, saying: "Hong Kong police have responded to an unauthorised intrusion at the official residence of the consul-general of Australia. No one was injured during the incident."

The consulate expressed thanks to the force, and said no further statements would be issued as the matter was subject to a police investigation.

The break-in was discovered at about 6.30am, when Tighe woke up and found one of the rooms in his home had been ransacked. He then called police.

"The room's window was prised open," a police source said, adding that a burglar probably climbed over the surrounding wall of the house from a construction site next door and entered through the window.