Thefts aboard Hong Kong-bound flights soar, with HK$4.5m stolen in nine months this year

Criminal gangs are netting sky-high takings from thefts committed aboard flights into Hong Kong, with property worth HK$4.5 million taken in the first nine months of this year.

One victim, who came forward anonymously after being robbed for US$30,000 last week, said the gangs were highly professional and that anyone flying into Hong Kong could be at risk.

Hong Kong police figures show that the cost of crimes committed on planes had hit HK$4.45 million for this year by the end of September, more than the total for the previous two years combined. The total number of such cases is on course to be the highest since police began keeping such records in 2012.

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The victim, a United Arab Emirates national who has flown on business at least once a month for a decade, had US$30,000 in cash taken from an overhead locker on an Etihad flight.

He urged other travellers to be aware that flying to the city overnight while carrying valuables could prove "very dangerous".

"It's hard for airlines to say 'do not sleep' on flights or not to carry any valuables because what happened to me can happen to anybody," he said. "These people are really perfect and professional in what they are doing; you don't recognise what they are doing - stealing."

He said the economy class cabin he was travelling in was "not crowded" and the locker in question contained only his bag.

The man said he was "100 per cent sure" he would not see his money again, but "wanted to speak out now to protect other people from theft".