Hong Kong police have arrested two men for allegedly stealing property worth HK$40,000 (US$5,100) from passengers on two inbound flights from Malaysia and Switzerland, including both local and foreign currency.
The force said on Wednesday that the arrests were made at Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday following reports from three passengers.
According to the passengers from the two flights, they had placed their carry-on bags in the overhead compartments in their cabins, but later found items missing.
After a preliminary investigation, police arrested two men from mainland China, aged 25 and 47, on suspicion of theft. They have been detained for further investigation.
The pair were alleged to have stolen cash from three passengers in Hong Kong dollars and foreign currency valued at HK$40,000 in total. The two cases were handled by the airport’s district investigation team.
The city recorded 169 cases of cabin theft on inbound flights in the first 10 months of 2024, involving property worth HK$4.32 million.
In late July, police arrested three men for in-flight theft after three Indian nationals reported losing cash and property during a flight from India to Hong Kong.
The arrestees, mainland Chinese men aged between 47 and 58, allegedly stole two bracelets worth HK$50,000, together with HK$34,400 in local and foreign currency.
The force urged the public to be careful in plane cabins and secure their carry-on baggage, and keep valuables with them if leaving their seats.
Any person found guilty of theft faces a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
