Manhunt launched in Hong Kong after money changers robbed of more than HK$16 million
- Car carrying money changers was intercepted on Hoi Po Road at Yau Ma Tei
- Police are looking for suspects who fled in a black BMW and fled towards New Territories
Hong Kong police launched a citywide manhunt for three men after employees of a money exchange company were rammed in their car by another vehicle and robbed of more than HK$16 million (US$2.05 million) in cash in Yau Ma Tei at around noon on Wednesday.
A male driver, aged 29, and female passenger, 32, were driving in a Toyota Alphard seven-seater car along Hoi Po Road when a black BMW SUV hit it from behind and damaged the bumper, according to police. A second passenger, believed to be the company boss, was also inside the Toyota at the time.
A force insider said one of the men from the BMW, armed with a hammer and a knife, rushed to the passengers and snatched two backpacks from them, each with HK$8 million in cash inside.
“The suspect jumped back into the BMW and fled first towards the direction of Tai Kok Tsui and then towards the New Territories,” the source said, adding it was unclear how many culprits were involved.
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The driver and the female passenger were injured in the incident and sent to Kwong Wah Hospital for treatment, while the second passenger fled the scene.
A police spokeswoman said a passer-by reported the case at 1.18pm and the force was looking for the three suspects.
Last month, two employees of a money exchange company were conned out of HK$3.85 million in a bogus bitcoin transaction in Hong Kong.
The two employees, who worked in Tsim Sha Tsui, took the money to buy bitcoin at a shop on King’s Road near the junction of Tsing Fung Street in Tin Hau. The suspects were inside the shop posing as sellers.
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The money was counted in the shop, before one of the two “sellers” left with the money to carry out some paperwork. After waiting for a while, the two money exchange employees became suspicious and took the other seller to find his accomplice. The culprit tried to flee, but was caught on the spot, when the pair said they were going to call police.
The city recorded 264 robbery reports in 2020, a quarter more than in the previous year.
