Trembling betrayed habitual burglar

An habitual burglar whose criminal record dates back 20 years was arrested because he could not stop trembling when stopped by police, a court heard yesterday.

The District Court heard that when Tang Wing-cheung, 34, tried to flee from an apartment block where he stole a handbag on December 20, he was stopped in the lift lobby by a police officer.

'[The police officer] noticed the defendant was sweating. When the defendant and the policeman had eye contact, the defendant looked downwards and covered his face with his hands,' prosecutor Lily Ho said.

She said the policeman became suspicious and confronted Tang, who 'started to tremble'.

Tang pleaded guilty to burglary yesterday and was jailed for three years.

Ms Ho said when housewife Hung Pui-wan, 46, returned to her Sha Tin flat that afternoon, she left it unlocked and her handbag near the door as she went to the toilet.