Public warned as street-con cases rise
Police will be applying for heavier penalties in courts for con artists after recording a surge in street scam cases in the first half of this year.
The number of cases rose to 184 and involved losses of HK$4.43 million, police figures revealed. Twenty-seven people were arrested during the period. There were 262 cases last year and 217 in 2006.
The common trick of 'borrowing' money or a cellphone was the basis of 97 cases in the first half of the year, while 23 crimes involved buying 'valuable' electronic parts. Another common scam was the 'spiritual blessing'.
Edgar Kwan Chi-ping, of the Security Bureau's fight crime committee, warned the public to stay alert because street scam cases were increasing. 'Police will strengthen its enforcement and apply to the court for heavier penalties for individual cases,' he said.
Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee Siu-kwong said the present legislation on street deception was good enough and it was up to the courts to raise penalties against con artists.
