Home burglaries on Hong Kong’s richest up more than 70 per cent

High-end households suffer but city’s overall crime rate at lowest level since 1978, with average last year of 825 cases per 100,000 people

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Police chief Stephen Lo Wai-chung says the force will strengthen patrols and intelligence exchange with mainland counterparts. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 7:00pm, 24 Jan 2017Updated: 9:24am, 25 Jan 2017

High-end household burglaries involving losses of more than HK$500,000 at a time surged over 70 per cent last year, although the overall crime rate fell to its lowest level since 1978, Hong Kong’s police chief revealed on Tuesday.

Police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung also announced that two suspects from a gang involved in a high-profile break-in and kidnapping in Clear Water Bay in December had been arrested by mainland authorities in Guizhou province.

Unveiling the city’s crime statistics, Lo said a total of 60,646 crimes were reported last year – an 8.7 per cent drop from the previous year. The rate has been declining for 10 consecutive years.

The crime numbers translate to an average of 825 cases per 100,000 people in Hong Kong.

While home break-ins in 2016 dropped 5.9 per cent to 2,428 cases – a record low since 1969 – high-end burglaries totalling more than HK$500,000 in losses per case climbed from 31 to 54.

“Some mainlanders particularly targeted luxurious residences in Hong Kong,” Lo said.

“I do not suspect the work of any syndicate behind this, and it was more likely that the criminals entered the city illegally or with two-way permits.