Four professional thieves from South America who allegedly walked into a Mong Kok bank during operating hours and stole HK$4 million in cash and valuables have been caught and some of the loot seized, police say.
In what police said could have been the first such crime in the city, two of the thieves were thought to have sneaked into the basement of the Bank of East Asia's Prince Edward branch on Thursday afternoon, forced open five safety-deposit boxes and tried to open another four.
Officers said two of the thieves were able to stay in the safety-deposit box area for up to 20 minutes while they carried out the thefts.
Senior Superintendent Leung Ka-ming, head of Kowloon West crime unit, said there were no indications the thieves applied advanced technology in the burglary, but suggested they were professional.
'Two of the suspects diverted the attention of bank staff and helped the other two gang members to sneak into the basement for the burglary,' Mr Leung said. 'The operation was organised.'
A police source said the thieves stayed in the bank vault for 10 to 20 minutes.
