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Harvey Kong

Hong Kong police have arrested three men in connection with a HK$10 million (US$1.28 million) knifepoint robbery in Sheung Wan, the latest in a string of such cases targeting people exchanging foreign currency.
Superintendent Lo Ka-chun said on Friday that officers had earlier received a tip-off that a criminal syndicate would attempt a robbery, prompting police to set up an ambush at about 9am that day.
“This morning, the two victims had taken about HK$10 million in foreign currency to a currency exchange store in Sheung Wan to exchange Hong Kong dollars,” Lo said.
“After they had successfully changed the currency into Hong Kong dollars at a currency exchange store on Hillier Street, two assailants tried to rob them with knives inside the Sheung Wan MTR station.
“Police officers who were lying in wait nearby then quickly responded, subduing the two robbers involved.”
He noted that the victims were carrying a mix of US dollars and yuan before the robbery.
Police said the two victims, who are related, had not lost their money, but one of them had suffered a minor injury to their left hand during a struggle with one of the assailants.
The injured victim is in a stable condition and receiving treatment at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam.
The force also discovered a vehicle linked to the robbery and arrested its driver during the operation.
Lo said that the three suspects were all men aged 19 to 31. They were arrested for conspiracy to commit robbery and held by police for further investigation.

He said that some of the trio had triad backgrounds. One man had a Philippines passport and all three had Hong Kong identity cards, he added.
Lo said the case was the latest in a series of robberies involving currency exchange stores over the past few months, adding that the force was taking each one seriously and adopting an intelligence-led approach.
In late January, the force arrested six suspects in connection with the robbery of 51 million yen (US$324,140) outside a currency exchange shop.
The suspects included a victim who allegedly acted as a mole in the plot.
Lo said police’s investigations would look at whether a mastermind or a criminal syndicate had overseen the latest case and whether the robbery was related to past cases.
The force will also investigate how the trio knew of the victims’ intentions to exchange foreign currency.
The superintendent said there was currently no evidence that the perpetrators and victims knew each other.


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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 3 linked to HK$10 million knifepoint robbery

Police say some of the arrestees have triad backgrounds. Photo: Handout

The two victims had taken about HK$10 million in foreign currency to a store in Sheung Wan to exchange for Hong Kong dollars, police say. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong court denies bail to suspect over 51 million yen theft at currency exchange

On January 30, police received a report that two men had snatched a backpack containing 51 million yen from a Japanese man who had arranged to meet at the currency exchange shop. Photo: Karma Lo

Principal Magistrate David Cheung refused to grant bail to Koki Hirose after considering the nature of the offence and the strength of the evidence. Photo: Nora Tam

Are Hong Kong foreign exchange firms secure enough?

Hong Kong police have arrested six suspects in connection with a 51 million yen robbery in Sheung Wan. Photo: Karma Lo

A currency exchange shop in Causeway Bay. Photo: Nora Tam

Armed escort companies may be needed when large sums are involved. Photo: Handout

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 arrest 3 linked to HK$10 million knifepoint robbery

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Police say ambush operation planned after tip-off of robbery attempt

Police say ambush operation planned after tip-off of robbery attempt