Woman arrested over power theft after Hong Kong flat fire kills 5 pets
Investigators say woman, 56, left Mong Kok flat with air conditioner running and blaze suspected to have been triggered by short circuit
A Hong Kong woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing electricity after a fire broke out in her Mong Kok flat, killing three cats and two dogs.
Investigators said on Friday that the 56-year-old, surnamed Chan, had left her Tung Choi Street flat at about 6pm the previous day with the air conditioner running. The flat was believed to have caught fire due to a short circuit.
She was apprehended after checks by power supplier CLP revealed irregularities in the flat’s electricity supply.
Police were alerted by a security guard at 9.27pm after the blaze broke out. Firefighters forced their way into the flat and extinguished the fire.
The animals were found unconscious and staff from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confirmed their deaths at about 11pm.
About 50 people were evacuated. No human injuries were reported.