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Harvey Kong

Jeffie Lam

Hong Kong police have arrested six suspects in connection with a 51 million yen (US$330,800) robbery outside a currency exchange shop, including a victim who allegedly acted as a mole in the plot.
Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said on Saturday that three Japanese men, a mainland Chinese man and woman, and a local man were detained.
“Two Japanese men reported to police that they were robbed [on Friday]. Upon investigation, we found that one of them was a mole who had offered information to another two Japanese men,” Chow said.
On Friday morning, two men allegedly fled with 51 million yen, equivalent to HK$2.58 million, outside a currency exchange shop in Sheung Wan.
A source earlier said that two employees of a Japanese currency exchange company flew to Hong Kong at around 7.30am on Friday and made an appointment to exchange about 190 million yen at the shop.

The pair, aged 27 and 51, had two backpacks and a suitcase. When they arrived at the money exchange shop in a taxi, one of their backpacks, which contained the 51 million yen, was snatched.
It was initially reported that 58 million yen was stolen, but police clarified the amount on Saturday.
In a subsequent briefing, Chief Inspector Lam Ka-tsing said on Saturday that police had recovered about 11 million yen. She described the robbery as “very serious” as those involved had committed the crime very quickly and were really rough, while the case included an insider.
Lam said that two of the arrested Japanese men allegedly snatched the backpack from the victim, while the mainland woman was an accomplice of the pair.
Two other men, a 28-year-old local and a 29-year-old mainlander, were arrested on suspicion of helping to handle some of the stolen money.

Superintendent Sam Sin Kwok-ming said that the victim had initially intended to buy some items that were not taxed in Hong Kong to save on costs as well as profit from currency differences.
A similar robbery took place in the same district last month, in which four armed men robbed a currency exchange shop of 1 billion yen. Fifteen suspects were later arrested.
Asked if the two cases were connected, Sin said that there was currently no information to suggest that they were.
He urged anyone involved in transporting large sums of money to call police as soon as possible if they spotted suspicious people or vehicles nearby.
“Police will arrive on the scene as soon as possible to help,” he said.
Separately, the police chief said the force would step up patrols at high-risk places, such as currency or jewellery shops, especially ahead of Lunar New Year.
Chow made the comments after inspecting a passing-out parade at the Hong Kong Police College in Wong Chuk Hang


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Crime in Hong Kong

6 arrested over 51 million yen robbery in Hong Kong, with ‘mole’ among victims

Hong Kong police investigate a robbery outside a money exchange shop in Sheung Wan. Photo: Karma Lo

Police have recovered 11 million yen. Photo: Dickson Lee

Commissioner of Police Joe Chow says one suspect is a mole who acted as a victim. Photo: Jelly Tse

Hong Kong police probe 58 million yen theft at currency exchange shop

Hong Kong police have received a report of an alleged robbery outside a money exchange shop in Sheung Wan. Photo: Karma Lo

2 decoration workers remanded in custody over 1 billion yen robbery in Hong Kong

The two defendants appeared at Fanling Court on Friday. Photo: Winson Wong

Hong Kong police arrest 15 over ‘meticulously planned’ 1 billion yen robbery

A police officer searches and collects evidence from a car on Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, believed to be linked to the robbery. Photo: Edmond So

Police display evidence from the crime scene, including a butcher knife. Photo: Jelly Tse

6 arrested over 51 million yen robbery in Hong Kong, with ‘mole’ among victims

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Police chief Joe Chow says the six suspects include three Japanese men

Police chief Joe Chow says the six suspects include three Japanese men