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Reoffending robber gets 7 years’ jail after targeting women hikers in Hong Kong

Police tracked down Zhang Suileng through mobile phone he had taken at knifepoint from one of his victims on hiking trail

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The High Court of Hong Kong. Photo: Fung Chang

A mainland Chinese man who sneaked into Hong Kong to target women hikers in a series of robberies was nabbed thanks to a mobile phone he stole, a court heard on Tuesday.

Zhang Suileng, who just three months before reoffending had been freed from a Hong Kong prison for similar offences, was caught in Tuen Mun after police took advantage of the global positioning system (GPS) on the iPhone he stole in the last of his four robberies.

They relied on the gadget to find his hideout, and then his Octopus card to locate him.

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He stole more than HK$90,000 (US$11,500) worth of cash and valuables during the four attacks and threatened his victims with knives.

Thieves cart away two safes with HK$120,000 as Hong Kong is hit by four burglary cases in one morning

His crimes were criticised by the High Court judge sentencing him, Mrs Justice Judianna Barnes, who refused to accept that Zhang picked up his knives on the hills, as he claimed to police.

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