Hong Kong police hunt for suspect in HK$2 million iPhone theft
Telecoms shop manager allegedly stole 200 iPhone 16 devices, prompting China Mobile regional director to report incident to police
Hong Kong police have launched a manhunt for a telecoms shop manager from Wan Chai who allegedly stole about 200 iPhones worth nearly HK$2 million (US$256,760).
The case surfaced on Tuesday when a regional director of telecoms service provider China Mobile discovered irregularities while checking the company’s computer system.
The outlet on Johnston Road in Wan Chai had been holding 198 iPhone 16 devices worth an estimated HK$1.9 million for an extended period.
According to a police source, the 38-year-old shop manager, when asked, said the phones had been reserved for customers, before changing his claim on Wednesday that the devices had been sold.
But the director found no record of such transactions in the system on Thursday morning and had been unable to reach the manager since.
At about 10am, the man sent a message to the director saying he had stolen the 198 phones. The director then called police.