You are here: Home > China > Nation

Adjust font size:

Three masked men robbed 81 gold bricks worth HK$22.68 million (US$2.92 million) in 20 seconds in Fanling, the New Territories in Hong Kong on Tuesday morning, which is the biggest gold heist for six years in the city.

Hong Kong police investigate the crime scene where 81 gold bricks worth HK$22.68 million (US$2.92 million) were robbed at On Chuen Street, Hong Kong on Nov. 22, 2016. [Weibo.com]

Hong Kong police said they are hunting for the three men who made the actual robbery and two drivers who helped them with two vehicles. But no arrests had been made.

According to the police, the victim was a 33-year-old who had been hired a few months ago by a company to deliver the gold. At about 9 a.m., he was unloading three bags of gold bars from his delivery van onto a trolley outside Heraeus Technology Center in On Chuen Street, for the gold bars to be taken to a nearby workshop to be melted and turned into ornaments. He was supposed to deliver 258 gold bullions in total, worth over HK$70 million.

At that time, three hooded men got out of a golden Toyota Camry, two wielding knives while the other attacked the victim’s face with pepper spray and grabbed the trolley. The robbers quickly pushed the trolley away taking the bags as they jumped into a white Toyota Previa in KuiSik Street, to make their getaway.

"The victim tried to chase them but one of the robbers pointed a knife at him," said Superintendent Li Kwai-wah of the New Territories North regional crime unit.

Luckily, another six bags of gold bars worth about HK$50 million were left untouched in the delivery van at the crime scene. Each gold bar weighs 1 kg and is worth HK$300,000.

"It is possible they did not realize that there was another six other bags or did not have enough time," he said.

Li described the robbery as "coordinated" and "organized," since "the whole event only lasted no more than 20 seconds," as there were two separate vehicles with fake plates to take them there and help them escape.

"It appears to be an inside job because the culprits knew the route, date and time of delivery," he added.

The victim was treated at North District Hospital in Sheung Shui and was later discharged.

The police identified the suspects as Chinese nationals. They were either from Hong Kong or the mainland. They urged people to report to the Tai Po Police Station if they discover evidence relating to the robbery.

But Superintendent Li pointed out that the driver and his company had hired no security services and zero security equipment for this delivery. He said the police were looking into why such a low-security arrangement was used to deliver such an important and valuable cargo.

Li also advised those delivering large amounts of cash and valuables to employ a professional escort and security service.

There were several gold heists before in Hong Kong. The last major one happened in October 2010, when 265 gold bars worth HK$90 million were taken from a Yuen Long gold trading company. Police arrested three men and recovered most of the stolen bullions.

Print E-mail

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

Add your comments...

• User Name Required
• Your Comment
• Enter the words you see:    
  Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.