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The Kwun Tong criminal investigation unit shows reporters stills taken from CCTV footage ahead of an arrest made on Wednesday morning. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong man in custody, second on run after pair of heists net HK$430,000 in electronics from unattended vehicles

  • Police said CCTV footage showed the men drive a truck into two Kwun Tong industrial buildings, then empty vehicles of goods
  • One arrest was made Wednesday morning, when police grabbed a suspect as he approached the truck used in the thefts
Crime

Surveillance camera footage helped police arrest one of two men accused of stealing HK$430,000 (US$55,000) worth of electronic components in a pair of heists that took place over six days in Kwun Tong, police said on Thursday.

A manhunt was under way for the thief still on the run, said Senior Inspector Ng Ming-fung of the Kwun Tong criminal investigation unit.

The two men are alleged to have stolen the goods from vehicles parked inside industrial buildings on Hoi Yuen Road and Hung To Road on Thursday last week and Tuesday, respectively.

Senior Inspector Ng Ming-fung of the Kwun Tong criminal investigation unit (left) briefs media on a pair of heists involving HK$430,000 in electronics. Photo: Handout

Ng said CCTV footage showed the duo arrive in a truck and target unattended vehicles in the car park of the two buildings.

“They stole boxes of goods from the targeted vehicle, then loaded the cargo into their own truck before driving away in each case,” he said.

After an in-depth investigation, officers lay in wait at the car park of a public housing estate in Tin Shui Wai on Wednesday morning.

Hong Kong police hunt smash-and-grab robbers who stole HK$1.1 million worth of jewellery from Tin Shui Wai store

One of the suspects – a 35-year-old man – was arrested when he came to collect the truck used in the thefts at about 11am. Hours later, police recovered part of the stolen goods in Sha Tin.

As of Thursday afternoon, the man was still being held for questioning and had not been charged.

Police figures show reports of theft from vehicles across the city rose nearly 93 per cent, to 407, in the first three months of this year, up from 211 in the same period last year.

Burglars bag HK$500,000 in cash and watches in spate of Hong Kong break-ins

Separately, a 37-year-old man called police at about 9.30am on Thursday after discovering his Kwun Tong flat had been ransacked.

According to police, HK$176,000 worth of gold jewellery was stolen along with HK$4,000 from a safe in his Po Shan House flat at Po Pui Court. Police said a window had been pried open.

So far, no one has been arrested in connection with the case.

According to official statistics, police handled 655 reports of burglary across the city in the first three months of this year, up nearly 75 per cent from 375 cases over the same period last year.

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