Hong Kong police hunt for robber who stole HK$9,000 in valuables, cash from visually impaired man

According to police, the bag had contained about HK$3,500 in cash, as well as two phones respectively worth about HK$500 and HK$5,000.

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The suspect was described as between 30 to 40 years old, about 1.65 metres (5.41 feet) tall with a thin build and last seen wearing beige clothing and a cap.

The force has classified the case as a theft.

Hong Kong has witnessed a surge in such cases throughout the year. Police handled 16,940 reports of theft, including snatching and pickpocketing, between January and September, a 28.8 per cent rise from 13,150 incidents over the same period in 2022.

The uptick in theft reports reflected a wider crime surge over the same period, with authorities logging a 33.8 per cent rise in all offences.

The force’s crime prevention bureau earlier this year attributed a rise in thefts to an overall increase in business and social activities following the city’s reopening and post-pandemic recovery.