Crime | Two arrested for pick-pocketing in casino restaurants

Two mainland residents have been arrested for pick-pocketing inside restaurants located in casinos, the Judiciary Police reported yesterday. The two male suspects are named Mo (aged 52) and Xie (aged 53).

The suspects were behind six theft cases reported to the police between December 20 and January 1. The two are now suspected of pick- pocketing in four restaurants, all located inside Cotai casinos.

According to the PJ, the pair acted together during lunch and dinner in these restaurants.

Once they found a target who left their belongings beside them, one of the suspects would pretend to be a customer of the restaurant and sit next to their target. When the target stopped paying attention to their belongings, one suspect would pick the target’s pockets, while the second one would act as a whistleblower.

After successfully committing the crime, the pair would immediately leave the restaurant.

In total, the victims reported losses of MOP490,000.

On Tuesday morning, the PJ arrested the two suspects in the ZAPE area, having seized a total of HKD40,000 from them.

The PJ believes that the stolen properties have already been taken to mainland China.

During the investigation, the PJ found out that the suspect named Xie was also involved in a similar theft case reported back in January 2012. In that case, the victim reported a total loss of HKD100,000.

The two mainlanders have been charged with aggravated theft, and have been transferred to the prosecution authority.