Hong Kong police hunt gang behind HK$8 million watch heist in bustling shopping district
- Three robbers burst into Legend Success Timepiece store in Causeway Bay and made off with about 30 watches, while fourth person acted as getaway driver
- One of the robbers is armed with knife, while the other two are carrying sledgehammer and bag, respectively, video shows
Hong Kong police have launched a manhunt for a gang of smash-and-grab robbers who made off with watches worth as much as HK$8 million (US$1 million) in a raid at a store in a top shopping district on Wednesday.
Police said initial investigations suggested three robbers raided the shop and grabbed about 30 high-value timepieces, with a fourth member of the gang acting as a getaway driver.
“Two of the robbers were carrying a knife and a sledgehammer when they entered the store,” a spokesman said. “They snatched about 30 watches, ran out of the shop and fled in a getaway car.”
A video posted online shows three black-clad men, all wearing gloves, striking when a woman customer enters the shop.
One knife-wielding robber grabs the woman from behind and throws her out of the shop, the footage shows. The woman then falls on the pavement before the other two robbers, who are carrying a sledgehammer and bag, respectively, rush into the store.
The footage also shows one robber using a sledgehammer to smash glass counters while the other grabs watches and stuffs them into his bag before they escape.