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Jeffie Lam

Hong Kong police have arrested two men in a week for allegedly stealing cash from passengers’ cabin luggage on two inbound flights from Vietnam.
The force said on Saturday that the latest arrest had taken place on Friday and involved a 61-year-old man suspected of stealing 10 million Vietnamese dong, or about HK$3,060 (US$390), in cash from another passenger on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City.
The alleged victim had discovered his carry-on bag had been taken from the overhead bin and found the cash inside was missing after recovering his luggage.
Police officers were called and they arrested the 61-year-old man after retrieving the missing cash from his luggage.
The suspect was still in custody as of Sunday. The force’s Lantau criminal investigation unit is following up on the case.
Officers also arrested a 38-year-old man on Wednesday last week for allegedly stealing US$4,500 from another passenger’s cabin bag on a flight from Da Nang.
Hong Kong recorded 169 cases of in-flight thefts involving HK$4.32 million worth of valuables in the first 10 months of 2024.

The figure exceeded the annual number of reports in each of the tourism boom years of 2018 and 2019, which only recorded 103 and 147 such cases, respectively.
About 70 per cent of the thefts were on short-haul flights arriving from countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and India.
Another 20 per cent were from locations such as the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Qatar. Other departure points included mainland China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, Canada, Australia and Switzerland.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung previously said most of the valuables stolen were either cash, expensive jewellery and watches, or credit cards.
He promised to step up measures to combat such crimes, adding that the rise in cases could be related to increased efforts to urge the public to file reports.


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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police arrest 2 men over thefts on planes arriving from Vietnam

Hong Kong recorded 169 cases of in-flight thefts involving HK$4.32 million worth of valuables in the first 10 months of 2024. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

About 70 per cent of the thefts were on short-haul flights. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong police arrest passenger for allegedly stealing HK$11,000 on flight from Vietnam

The number of thefts on board flights into Hong Kong has surged following the removal of pandemic-related travel restrictions. Photo: Shutterstock

Most of the theft cases this year occurred on short-haul flights arriving from countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and India. Photo: Elson Li

Hong Kong logs 169 cases of theft on inbound flights, losses reach HK$4.32 million

A minister has suggested the rise in cases could be related to increased efforts to urge members of the public to file reports. Photo: Elson Li

Secretary for Security Chris Tang says authorities are working closely with stakeholders to prevent in-flight thefts. Photo: May Tse

News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime

Incidents took place over one week, with suspects believed to have targeted cash in passengers’ carry-on bag


Incidents took place over one week, with suspects believed to have targeted cash in passengers’ carry-on bag.


Hong Kong aviation

Hong Kong International Airport

Aviation