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Wynna Wong

In-flight crime was back on the radar over the weekend after a man on board a flight run by Cathay Pacific Airways’ budget arm, HK Express, landed in Hong Kong from Vietnam and discovered some of his belongings were missing, including a HK$330,000 (US$46,000) Rolex watch.
The items also included thousands of dollars in cash and a bank card, originally stored in his bag placed in an overhead carrier bin when he boarded the plane.
Police arrested a fellow passenger for suspected theft and found the victim’s items under a shuttle bus mat, but other passengers may not be so lucky.
The Post explains how aeroplane thieves operate, and what you can do to protect yourself from them.
1. How often do thefts happen on flights?
According to police, 74 cases of in-flight theft were reported over the first seven months of the year, with two arrests made so far.
The number was equivalent to 82 per cent of last year’s total of 90 cases, with four arrests made.
Police said in October the force had noticed an increasing number of crimes on inbound flights since borders reopened from coronavirus travel restrictions early last year.
A total of 13 in-flight theft cases were reported throughout the first nine months of 2023, compared with just two incidents in 2022, one in 2021 and five in 2020.
The revelation came after the force made a string of arrests and smashed a crime syndicate that targeted passengers’ credit cards on planes bound for the city, suggesting some in-flight thefts have now become organised operations.
Apart from the theft that took place on the HK Express flight over the weekend, a 37-year-old mainland Chinese man contacted police after he discovered that his credit card had allegedly been stolen on another flight from Vietnam to the city.
The man had not even been aware that his card had gone missing until his bank notified him of an unknown HK$36,330 transaction made on the card, which he had kept inside his backpack while flying on VietJet Air 966 on Sunday, making it the second suspected mid-air theft involving flights from Vietnam in a day.
2. How do thieves commit their crimes?
According to police, thieves often target bags that are stowed in overhead compartments, rummaging through the luggage of other passengers while they are resting during the flight.
They tend to go after valuables such as cash and credit cards, with victims usually unaware the items are missing until after passengers have disembarked.
After police smashed a related crime ring last year, a source told the Post some victims did not realise their credit cards had been stolen until their banks alerted them to suspicious transactions.
The thieves used the cards to make purchases at a Tsim Sha Tsui liquor store linked to triad gangs, in an attempt to launder the money.
Transactions ranged from HK$12,000 to HK$58,000, while the thieves tasked with stealing the cards were paid thousands of Hong Kong dollars in commission.

3. What can you do to keep your stuff safe?
Responding to queries from the Post, HK Express said passengers should lock their carry-on bags and “properly safeguard their valuables when on board”.
When passengers leave their seats, they should take their valuables with them or leave them with a trusted travel companion.
4. What should you do if you become a victim?
“If passengers notice any suspicious persons or behaviours on board, or discover that items have been stolen, they should immediately notify the cabin crew so that assistance can be provided, or the matter can be reported to the authorities,” the spokesman added.
The airline said following the passenger’s report of missing items on Saturday, the plane’s cabin crew immediately requested police assistance upon arrival in Hong Kong, in accordance with standard procedures.
Most travel insurance policies will cover stolen items, as such theft is considered an unforeseen circumstance.
According to insurer Allianz, the company will, as stated in their policies, pay a customer if baggage and personal effects are stolen, accidentally damaged or are permanently lost during a journey.
According to Axa’s website, when preparing for an insurance claim, travellers should provide documents such as loss or damage reports from relevant authorities, including their airline, hotel or police.


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Crime in Hong Kong

How to protect yourself from high-flying criminals who prey on airline passengers

Police arrested a fellow passenger for suspected theft and found the victim’s items under a shuttle bus mat, but other passengers may not be so lucky. Photo: Facebook/Jack Wong

Responding to queries from the Post, HK Express said passengers should lock their carry-on bags and “properly safeguard their valuables when on board”. Photo: Shutterstock

Mainland Chinese man arrested after allegedly stealing HK$330,000 Rolex on Hong Kong flight

A mainland Chinese man has been arrested for allegedly stealing cash and valuables from a fellow passenger on a HK Express flight. Photo: Facebook/Jack Wong

Passengers were said to have been kept on a bus on the tarmac for about an hour before police arrived. Photo: Facebook/Jack Wong

Hong Kong police warn of increased thefts on inbound airliners and tell passengers to watch belongings after mile-high crime gang snared

Some of the high-end alcohol seized in Operation Big Thunder, a police sting targeting aircraft credit card thefts. Photo: Handout

Liquor, credit cards and bank documents as well as electronic devices seized by police during Operation Big Thunder. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

After a Rolex watch was stolen from HK Express flight, the Post looks at how airline thieves operate and what you can do to avert them


After a Rolex watch was stolen from HK Express flight, the Post takes a look at how airline thieves operate and what you can do to avert them.


Explainers

HK Express

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | How to protect yourself from high-flying criminals who prey on airline passengers

After a Rolex watch was stolen from HK Express flight, the Post looks at how airline thieves operate and what you can do to avert them

1. How often do thefts happen on flights?