Mainland Chinese visitor arrested in Hong Kong suspected of 13 break-ins
Working with counterparts over border, city police placed suspect under surveillance as soon as he entered city
Hong Kong police have arrested a mainland Chinese visitor on suspicion of breaking into 13 flats between January and June and stealing HK$510,000 (US$65,400) in cash and jewellery.
The force said on Friday the suspected serial burglar from Guangxi province was placed under police surveillance after he returned to the city last Saturday.
Chief Inspector So Chi-bing of the Kowloon East regional crime unit said police had exchanged intelligence on the suspect with mainland authorities, but he stopped short of revealing further details.
Officers observed the 34-year-old man visiting various housing estates in Wong Tai Sin on Wednesday, in an apparent move to scout for burglary targets, the force said.
“In the evening on the same day, the man climbed onto the first-floor podium of a building in the district and attempted to pry open the windows of the target flat with a screwdriver,” So said.
The chief inspector said the attempt was unsuccessful and the man tried to leave the scene but was arrested.