Hong Kong pair arrested on suspicion of executing series of high-rise burglaries by climbing up scaffolding
- Police arrest two men as they clamber down scaffolding at residential block in Wong Tai Sin district
- Burglars scaled buildings to enter homes and steal HK$250,000 worth of cash and values in four raids, detectives say
Two men accused of climbing up scaffolding to steal HK$250,000 (US$32,000) worth of cash and valuables in a series of Hong Kong burglaries over four months have been arrested.
The two suspects, aged 52 and 58, posed as workers for the daytime break-ins, preying on old residential blocks with lax security measures and bamboo scaffolding in place for renovation, police said on Friday.
“They disguised themselves as decorators by wearing reflective vests and went to alleys from where they started climbing,” a police spokesman said.
The intruders targeted unattended flats, that were not fitted with window grilles, to force their way in and flee with cash and valuables, taking the same route down to escape, the spokesman said.
The pair were arrested on Thursday afternoon when they clambered down from scaffolding erected around a residential block in Foo Yuen Street, San Po Kong.
Police suspect the men stole HK$4,000 in cash and valuables from two flats in that building.