Indonesian domestic helpers attacked at knifepoint during Hong Kong home invasion in which thieves steal HK$83,000

Hong Kong police launched a citywide manhunt on Friday for a pair of thieves who threatened two Indonesian domestic helpers at knifepoint during a terrifying home invasion in an upscale neighbourhood.

The robbers, who left the two women tied up in the basement, escaped with two mobile phones and about HK$83,000 (US$10,000) in cash from a three-storey, sea-view house on Tai Tam Road, Stanley.

The residents, a 74-year-old doctor and his wife, were out for dinner during the ordeal, which occurred about 7.30pm on Thursday, and began when one of the helpers, aged 43, went to put a bag of rubbish outside.

According to a police source, one of the robbers threatened the woman with a fruit knife forced her back into the house. The other helper, aged 42, was grabbed when she came out of the bathroom.

“The two helpers were bound with tape at knifepoint,” the source said. “The pair were guarded by one of the culprits in the basement, while the other ransacked the house.”

He said the culprits remained in the house for about half an hour before fleeing with HK$60,000, and 20,000 yuan (HK$22,900), along with two mobile phones worth about HK$2,800.

The two helpers later managed to untie themselves and called the owners, who returned home and called the police shortly before 11pm.

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Police said the cash was stolen from a second-floor bedroom where drawers were prised open, and the two mobile phones belonged to the helpers.

Officers scouted the area with the help of a police tracking dog, but no arrests were made.

According to police, the two robbers were Chinese men and wore face masks and hats during the raid.

The police source said home invasions such as this were rare in Hong Kong, and police are treating the case seriously.