Hong Kong police arrest suspect over HK$3.6 million robbery of traveller at underpass

“Police have grounds to believe that the perpetrators had swiftly transferred the stolen funds to their hometown.”

According to police, the suspect is a recognisance form holder, a temporary identification document that allows bearers to stay in the city.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the force was still searching for at least two other men in connection with the robbery.

The victim, 61, had collected the HK$3.6 million from a money exchange shop at Chungking Mansions in Tsim Sha Tsui and was taking it to a relative’s home in a Sheung Shui village at the time of the incident.

Hong Kong police hunt 2 suspects who stole bag with HK$3.6 million from man

Law said on Tuesday that the police’s investigation showed the robbers planned the hold-up at least two days beforehand, gathering information about the victim’s whereabouts, timing and routes.

“Security camera footage shows that on the day of the incident, one of the robbers began tailing the victim from Tsim Sha Tsui to the crime scene while his two accomplices took other transport and lay in wait near the site,” he said.

The chief inspector said it was an “organised and premeditated” robbery.

Robbery was a very serious crime and punishable by up to life in prison, Law said.

Police handled 97 robberies in 2023, an increase of 26 per cent from the 77 cases logged in 2022.