Hong Kong police have arrested six suspected triad members and rescued three university graduates who were bound and robbed of HK$2 million (US$254,800) in cash and valuables at knifepoint in their flat.
A police source on Tuesday said that investigation suggested the three male victims in their twenties were targeted possibly because of their extravagant lifestyle, which included “wearing luxury watches and smoking cigars”, with one of them reportedly in the restaurant business.
During the operation, officers recovered all the stolen items, including eight luxury watches, electronic products and HK$350,000 in cash. Rolex, Cartier and Audemars Piguet were among the watch brands.
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After receiving intelligence, detectives from the Kowloon West regional crime unit laid in wait on Man Wui Street in Yau Ma Tei on Monday afternoon. The source said intelligence did not indicate the exact targets of the criminals.
At about 6.30pm, a taxi pulled over on Man Wui Street and five men left the cab, entering Man Wah Building on the same stretch. The sixth man – the driver – remained in the taxi that was later used as a getaway car.
When the five men were found acting suspiciously while leaving the building about half an hour later, officers swooped into action. The suspects tried to flee, but were stopped and subdued by police at the scene.
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Superintendent Alan Chung said officers recovered the stolen cash and valuables from the five men along with three knives and a crowbar. The force also arrested the driver of the taxi, which was stolen in Tsuen Wan in the morning.
After identifying the location that the suspects had targeted, officers broke into the 13th-floor flat and rescued the three victims who were found tied up in the living room, their mouths bound with tape.
According to the force, the three men were unhurt in the incident.
“The investigation indicated the robbers posing as delivery workers pressed the doorbell and rushed into the flat when the door was opened. In the premises, they threatened the victims with knives and then tied up the trio,” Chung said.
Footage shows 4 armed robbers hold up Hong Kong store, flee with 70 watches
The six suspects, aged 18 to 43, were detained on suspicion of robbery and car theft. They are suspected members of the Wo Shing Wo and Sun Yee On triads.
In Hong Kong, robbery is punishable by up to life in jail.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the six local suspects were still being held for questioning. Police said the investigation was continuing and further arrests were possible.
Police handled 56 robberies between January and September this year, down 43.4 per cent from 99 cases logged in the same period last year. Forty-one of the 56 cases reported this year were solved. The detection rate was 73 per cent.
There were two high-profile robberies in six weeks in the third quarter of this year.
Hong Kong police arrest alleged getaway driver in HK$22 million necklace robbery
On October 10, a jade and diamond necklace worth HK$22 million was stolen from a jewellery shop in the city’s busy Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district. Three people were later arrested, but the necklace was not recovered.
On August 30, four men armed with a hammer, a knife and what appeared to be a pistol made off with 70 luxury watches worth HK$13 million from a store in Causeway Bay. Several days later, police arrested six people, recovered 36 of the stolen watches and seized an airgun and HK$230,000.
More from South China Morning Post:
- HK$22 million necklace robbery: Hong Kong police arrest 3 suspects, including man believed to be getaway driver
- CCTV footage shows 4 armed robbers hold up store in Hong Kong at lunchtime, escape with 70 watches
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