Hong Kong police launch manhunt after robbers grab HK$10 million in watches during daylight raid

At least four robbers made off with HK$10 million worth of watches from a Hong Kong shop on Friday lunchtime, sparking a citywide police manhunt.

Police were called to the Yau Ma Tei store on the ground floor of Yan On Building in Kwong Wa Street, near Kwong Wah Hospital, by a woman at about 1.30pm.

According to a police source, two men posed as customers to rob the Union Watch store while a third suspect acted as a lookout outside the shop. A fourth man drove a getaway car.

Inside the shop, one of the robbers threatened a male employee with a knife before the pair snatched more than 20 watches.

Police were initially told by a staff member that the haul was worth HK$10 million (US$1.28 million), the source said, but added officers were still in the process of determining how many watches were stolen and what the exact value was.

The four men fled in a getaway car – a white Toyota Picnic – before officers arrived.