US$650,000 among cash robbed from money exchange staff on Hong Kong street

2019-9-3

About five thieves strike on Ma Tau Wai Road, Hung Hom, making off with the victims' money-filled backpacks

The ordeal lasted about 10 seconds in what police source says was well-planned attack

A gang of thieves robbed two backpacks containing about HK$5 million in local and US currency from three money exchange employees in a Hong Kong street on Tuesday, sparking a citywide search, police said.

The audacious midday hold-up outside the Ma Tau Wai Road branch of Bank of China in Hung Hom lasted just a few seconds and involved up to five assailants, the force said.

The male staff members, who are Hong Kong identity card holders of Indian origin, were on their way to deliver the cash to Tsim Sha Tsui.

The stolen backpack contained US$650,000, as well as Hong Kong dollars. Photo: AFPThe stolen backpack contained US$650,000, as well as Hong Kong dollars. Photo: AFP

The stolen backpack contained US$650,000, as well as Hong Kong dollars. Photo: AFP

The audacious midday hold-up outside the Ma Tau Wai Road branch of Bank of China in Hung Hom lasted just a few seconds and involved up to five assailants, the force said.

The male staff members, who are Hong Kong identity card holders of Indian origin, were on their way to deliver the cash to Tsim Sha Tsui.

"Initial investigation showed the three employees were attacked from behind by four to five robbers," a police source said.

"One of the staff members was struck with a hard object and the other was punched. The culprits then snatched their backpacks carrying US$650,000 and HK$100,000 in total before jumping into a getaway car to escape."

The gang made their escape in a gold Toyota Camry, which sped away before officers arrived.

The police source said the mugging appeared to be well-planned, adding: "The whole incident lasted about 10 seconds."

He said initial investigation showed the suspects were South Asian men and two of them were armed with rods. Officers were said to be checking CCTV footage in an effort to identify them.

Two of the employees suffered minor injuries in the attack, but they did not require hospital treatment.

By 4pm, the manhunt was continuing and no arrests had been made.

Several high-profile cases of a similar nature have been reported in Hong Kong over the last year.

On May 2, two robbers attacked a 53-year-old man with a knife outside Whampoa MTR station in the same district and stole a backpack holding HK$4 million.

Passers-by stopped one of the assailants after a brief chase and the money was recovered.

In February 2018, five employees of a money exchange were robbed of two suitcases containing more than 450 million Japanese yen (HK$32.1 million) on Carnarvon Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Later that year in August, a gang attacked three employees of a money exchange company and stole a bag holding HK$10 million in Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.

There have also been a number of daylight hold-ups since last week.

On Sunday, two officers drew their guns to arrest five suspects, including a 16-year-old boy, over a robbery that failed when the gang could not get through the door of a watch shop in Sham Shui Po.

Last Wednesday, a male robber wearing a helmet, black goggles and face mask made off with HK$1 million worth of watches and gold ornaments from a Sai Yee Street shop in Mong Kok after threatening a female member of staff with a knife. He fled in a car driven by another man.

According to official figures, police handled 44 reports of robbery across the city in the first six months of 2019, down on 82 reports of robbery in the same period of 2018.

Source: SCMP