Armed gang snatches gold-coin turtles in Sheung Shui raid
More than 60 endangered turtles were stolen from a house in Sheung Shui after six masked robbers threatened a woman and her daughter with knives and tied the pair up yesterday.
The Chinese three-striped box turtles, also known as gold-coin turtles, could be sold for around HK$6,000 each on the black market and used for medicine, police said.
The gang, wearing face masks and caps, entered Ying Pun Ha Chuen in Fan Kam Road at about 10am. Three wore vests with illumination strips.
'We believe the culprits disguised themselves as road workers so villagers did not pay attention to them,' said Chief Inspector Chong Siu-hing, of Tai Po police station.
The robbers threatened the woman, 49, with a knife outside the two-storey house and dragged her inside. She and her daughter, 22, were tied up at knifepoint and then pushed into a bedroom.
Cantonese-speaking gang members stole the turtles from a pond covered by a metal grille at the front of the house. Police said several smaller turtles were left behind in the raid, which lasted about 10 minutes.
The women soon freed themselves and called the police and the mother's minor injuries were treated at North District Hospital.
The victims told officers that they had licences to keep the endangered species as pets.
'The victims claimed that some of the turtles were bought for HK$300 20 to 30 years ago and the others were bred,' Chief Inspector Chong said.
Police last night arrested a 38-year-old man in connection with the case but had found no turtles.
'It is possible the turtles were smuggled to the mainland for sale. They are said to have anti-cancer properties and people believe keeping gold-coin turtles can bring the owner good luck,' an officer said.
Hong Kong Chinese Herbalists Association president Kwan Chi-yee said turtle-based products could ease menstrual problems and had detoxifying properties. 'It can also enhance the immunity and strengthen blood circulation,' he said, adding that cost meant turtles were rarely used.
The endangered creatures, which are indigenous to Vietnam and the mainland, are sometimes crushed into a medicinal jelly.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said a licence was needed to export them, but the turtles can be kept as pets if their origins can be proved.
