Woman arrested over power theft after Hong Kong flat fire kills 5 pets
Investigators say woman, 56, left Mong Kok flat with air conditioner running and blaze suspected to have been triggered by short circuit
A Hong Kong woman has been arrested for allegedly stealing electricity after a fire broke out in her Mong Kok flat, killing three cats and two dogs.
Investigators said on Friday that the 56-year-old, surnamed Chan, had left her Tung Choi Street flat at about 6pm the previous day with the air conditioner running. The flat was believed to have caught fire due to a short circuit.
She was apprehended after checks by power supplier CLP revealed irregularities in the flat’s electricity supply.
Police were alerted by a security guard at 9.27pm after the blaze broke out. Firefighters forced their way into the flat and extinguished the fire.