Bad break for smart burglars

Police believe they have smashed a sophisticated burglary gang after seizing computer parts valued at more than $4 million in Shamshuipo yesterday.

Six men, including the 37-year-old alleged mastermind, were caught loading 14 boxes of computer parts into a van in Apliu Street at 6am.

Senior superintendent Simon So Kam-shing said the arrests had been made after several weeks of surveillance, during which core members of the syndicate were identified.

He said the raiders were grabbed after they prised open the window of a first-floor office to gain entry and then left through a rear door to dodge security guards.

Officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau are looking into whether the goods were destined for sale across the border and whether the arrested men were responsible for other burglaries.

'It is a sophisticated burglary syndicate. They were very quick at breaking in to an office with their hand tools without activating [alarms],' a police source said.