Abseiling burglar evades police after stealing HK$600,000 from Shouson Hill apartment
Thief attempts to rob two properties in early hours of Monday following a weekend of break-ins across the city
A burglar who stole more than HK$600,000 in cash and valuables from a Shouson Hill apartment and attempted to loot a neighbouring property in the early hours of Monday has dodged police.
According to police, an intruder climbed to the roof of a four-storey block, which was under renovation, before using a ladder to cross over to the roof of the Hau Yuen estate on Shouson Hill Road, Aberdeen, at about 1.30am.
“He abseiled down a rope from the roof and climbed into a third-floor apartment by prying open a window,” a police source said.
“Initial estimates show two watches and some gold ornaments with a combined value of HK$570,000 were stolen along with US$5,000 (HK$38,790) in cash.”
It is understood a domestic helper was asleep at the time of the burglary and her employer was out of town.
The break-in was discovered when the burglar attempted to gain entry to the neighbouring apartment, which woke up its 49-year-old male tenant, according to police.
The intruder fled when the tenant discovered a black shadow on his balcony. No items were stolen from the second apartment.
More than 50 policemen combed the area following the burglary. Despite their efforts however, no arrests have yet been made.
Monday’s burglary followed a string of break-ins over the weekend across Lok Ma Chau, Sha Tin and Kowloon Tong where some HK$2.6 million in cash and valuables is believed to have been stolen.
Hong Kong’s upmarket neighbourhoods, including The Peak, Shouson Hill, Deep Water Bay, Repulse Bay and Kowloon Tong have all been targeted by thieves in recent months.
Hau Yuen estate is just 1km from the residence of billionaire American Jim Thompson, which was burgled a fortnight ago.
Despite the recent spate of break-ins however, police figures show reports of burglary declined 4.6 per cent to 1,407 over the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period in 2015.
