Hong Kong police recover Hermes bag worth US$51,400 after officer pulls gun on knife-wielding robber
- Businesswoman had posted the item for sale online and was lured to night-time meet-up by three men, possibly triad members, posing as buyers
- When she arrived, they came at her with metal bars and robbed her, but nearby officers managed to give chase
A police sergeant drew his gun during a stand-off with a knife-wielding robber and recovered a Hermes Birkin bag worth about HK$390,000 stolen from a businesswoman on the streets of Hong Kong, a senior officer said on Tuesday. But two of the robber’s accomplices escaped and remain at large.
According to initial investigation, the woman posted the item for sale on the Carousell online selling platform last year, claiming the black crocodile-skin luxury bag was 99 per cent new and worth HK$399,000 (US$51,400).
Posing as a buyer, the gang – thought to be triads – contacted the woman online and after she lowered the price, they agreed to meet outside an industrial building in Kwai Cheong Road in Kwai Chung at 7pm on Monday.
The woman, who runs a trading company, went to the meet-up accompanied by her 45-year-old sister and a 53-year-old male friend, according to police.
Superintendent Iu Wing-kan, assistant Kwai Tsing district commander (crime), said that while the trio waited for the buyer, three men dressed in black, wearing masks and brandishing metal bars rushed out and attacked the group, snatched the handbag and ran away.
Plain-clothes officers from Kwai Chung police station who were patrolling the area discovered the hold-up and chased after the gang. Officers caught up with one suspect after about half a kilometre, and the 18-year-old man pulled out the knife and threatened them.
A sergeant drew out his gun and issued a warning
“A sergeant drew out his gun and issued a warning,” Iu said. “The robber subsequently dropped the weapon and surrendered himself to police.”
Officers recovered the handbag from him and arrested him for robbery – an offence that carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The other two suspects are estimated to be about 20 years old.
Another source said the three culprits were believed to be members of Wo Shing Wo triad society, which was active in Tsuen Wan. “We have identified the two robbers who are still at large,” he said, adding arrests would be made in a matter of time.
During the hold-up, the victim’s male friend suffered minor hand injuries and was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the 18-year-old man, who is unemployed, was being held for questioning and had not been charged. Detectives from the Kwai Tsing district crime squad are handling the case.
Separately, police arrested a street sleeper – a 56-year-old man – in connection with a robbery that happened in a 7-Eleven convenience store in Tong Mi Road, Mong Kok at around 11pm on Saturday.
Police said a man wearing a motorcycle helmet and carrying a knife rushed into the shop and said he was robbing it.
He grabbed 15 packs of tobacco worth HK$850 but failed to prise open the cash register and fled, while the shop’s employee hid in a back room.
The suspect was picked up at the underpass at the junction of Oak Street and Cheery Street in Mong Kok at 10.40pm on Monday. As of Tuesday afternoon, he was being held at Mong Kok police station for questioning and had not been charged.
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