In the early hours of Monday, a dim sum restaurant located in a shopping center in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, fell victim to a burglary resulting in the theft of eighteen bottles of spirits and HK$100,000 (US$12,780) in cash.
The incident came to light around 7 a.m. when staff returned to the first-floor restaurant at Pak Tin Commercial Centre, Pak Tin Estate, to resume work. The break-in occurred during the night, as employees had left the premises shortly before midnight.
According to a source familiar with the case, a safe situated at the restaurant’s cashier counter was forcibly opened, leading to the theft of the cash. Additionally, the stolen liquor bottles, including XO cognac and Mao-tai, were estimated to be worth around HK$21,000.
Detectives from the Sham Shui Po criminal investigation unit are currently scouring surveillance camera footage for potential leads in the case.
In a separate incident, police were summoned to investigate another burglary at a ground-floor shop on Cameron Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, where HK$50,000 worth of valuables, including gemstones, ginseng, and a bottle of wine, were reported stolen. Authorities noted that the burglars had gained entry by forcing open the store’s back door.
These incidents add to a concerning trend of rising burglary cases across the city, with 1,354 reports recorded last year alone, marking a significant increase of 52.8% from the previous year.
Meanwhile, authorities are also on the lookout for a middle-aged suspect involved in an unrelated case of assault and robbery. In this incident, a 44-year-old woman was attacked and robbed of her HK$81,000 Rolex watch and HK$1,000 in cash at an industrial building in Yuen Long. Despite police efforts, the perpetrator remains at large, described as approximately 45 years old and wearing black clothing.
Following the assault, the victim was transported to Pok Oi Hospital for treatment of face and head injuries.
The uptick in robbery incidents, with 97 reported cases last year, reflects a 26% increase from the preceding year, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance and law enforcement efforts to ensure public safety.
