Hong Kong man arrested for impersonating police and then robbing victims
Officers say the suspect took cash and valuables worth HK$100,000 from nine people, including primary school pupils and old women
A jobless man accused of impersonating a plainclothes police officer and robbing nine people of HK100,000 in cash and valuables over the past six months was arrested by police in a raid on a public housing flat on Tuesday night.
Investigations showed the 36-year-old man mainly targeted students and elderly people and struck during lunchtime and in the evening in Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin and Ngau Tau Kok, according to police.
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Senior inspector Hung Cheuk-fai of Kowloon West regional crime unit said the nine victims – seven males and two females – included three primary school pupils aged between 10 and 12 and two women aged 80 and 84.
“Initial investigations showed the culprit followed his target to a quiet area before intercepting the victim,” he said.
“He claimed he was a policeman and then produced a card with his photograph on it before telling the victims to hand over their personal belongings such as wallets and mobile phones for inspection.
“He then diverted their attention and fled with the cash and valuables.”
The senior inspector said two of the victims refused to hand over their belongings and were instead assaulted.
The stolen property included a gold necklace, mobile phones and handbags, according to police..
After poring over more than 100 hours of security camera footage to identify the culprit, officers raided a public housing flat in Fu Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po at about 8pm on Tuesday and arrested the man.
The suspect was held for impersonating a police officer, robbery and theft, police said.
Inside the flat, police arrested another man, 44, on suspicion of stealing goods from supermarkets. Officers seized more than 30 boxes of sweets and chocolates worth thousands of dollars in the flat.
