Janitor jailed for 10½ years for HK$1.3 million robbery at Hong Kong jewellery store

A mainland Chinese robber has been jailed for 10½ years for stealing HK$1.3 million (US$167,200) worth of valuables from a Hong Kong jewellery store six years ago.

Janitor Xie Binlong, 48, on Wednesday pleaded guilty at the High Court to a count of robbery for the three-minute hold-up in Sham Shui Po, which took place in broad daylight on March 14, 2019.

The court heard Xie entered Hong Kong via the Lo Wu crossing that morning specifically to commit the crime.

The defendant was seen lingering in the vicinity of Sun Hai Jewellery and Goldsmith shop from 9.35am with an accomplice.

At 10.19am, he changed his attire and charged into the shop alone, declaring he was there to commit a robbery while brandishing a pistol-like object at the shop’s employees.

He made off with 64 gold necklaces, 38 gold bracelets and 10 gold pendants worth a total of HK$1,336,609 three minutes later.