Hong Kong police arrest passenger for allegedly stealing HK$11,000 on flight from Vietnam
Traveller reported cash and bank card missing from bag he had placed in overhead bin, latest in string of similar cases
The force on Friday revealed details of the latest case of suspected in-flight theft, noting the victim had placed his backpack in the overhead luggage bin but later found the money and card were missing.
Officers responded to a report on Thursday and arrested the mainland traveller on suspicion of theft.
The man allegedly stole about 8,600 yuan (US$1,180) and 860 Malaysian ringgit (US$194) and a debit card. He is still being detained for questioning.
A police spokesman declined to provide further details.
The number of thefts on board flights into Hong Kong has surged following the removal of pandemic-related travel restrictions.
The city recorded 169 such cases in the first 10 months of this year, according to the Security Bureau. The figure reached 92 cases for the whole of last year and only three were reported in 2022. No in-flight theft cases were logged in 2021.