Thief robbed 10 convenience stores in 30 seconds with a blade knife
source: sun
translated by cici@AsianEU

Cheung Sha Wan officers took suspect to a convenience store in reconstructing the case.


Lightning "7-11 blade knife bandit" was arrested recently. This suspect used only 30 seconds each time to ransack 10 7-11 convenience stores in three weeks. Because his face was exposed, after the police analyzed the places he frequented, they instructed front-line police officers to pay attention and finally a police officer intercepted and arrested the thief in the streets of Sham Shui Po on yesterday midnight. Police found a small amount of "Little K" in his possession, and did not rule out that he was prepared to commit another crime.

The arrested man, Cheung (27 years old), is unemployed, allegedly robbed 10 7-11 convenience stores in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories on the 28th last month to the 16th this month, of which 3 robberies on Hong Kong Island, 6 robberies in Kowloon and 1 in the New Territories, sweeping about more than 15,000 dollars.

Kowloon West Regional Crime Unit Acting Superintendent Chung Chi-ming said the suspect specifically picking 3:00am to 5:30am night time to commit crimes, and target convenience stores were also located in remote areas. The suspect acted alone with no hat or mask, and the blade knife used was borrowed or stolen. At the time of the robbery, suspect using a blade knife threatened staff to open the cash register to sweep the cash, each time taking a few hundred dollars to 2000 dollars, and each robbery ended in 30 seconds. He then fled on foot or by taxi.

Because the process of robbery was being filmed on closed-circuit television cameras, staffs also paid attention to the culprit's face providing useful information to the police. After Kowloon West Regional Crime Unit fifth team analyzed clues, they locked frequent areas that the thief appeared, and notified the front-line police officers to pay attention.

Four o'clock early morning yesterday, Police officers patrolled the junction between Castle Peak Road and Ton kin Street and intercepted a suspicious man. They found a small amount of "Little K" in his possession, and due to his appearance matched the blade knife bandit, so police handed him over to Crime Squad. The robber admitted to the crime of 10 convenience stores robbery. Shortly after noon yesterday, the officers escorted the hooded suspect on the 4th of this month to Cheung Sha Wan Road, No. 681 7-11 convenience store reconstructing the case.

According to sources the suspect was not a convenience store staff. The reason he was familiar with the operation of the cash register was that he had forced a staff to teach him how to open the cash register during the first robbery. Later he took advantage of what he knew and selected similar convenience store to commit crime. 7-11 spokesman said the company has guided staff on anti-theft and managing robbery process. Each shop had closed circuit televisions and alarms such that the company will regularly review the security procedures.