3rd October 2026 – (Hong Kong) Police have broken up a burglary syndicate allegedly directed from the mainland and linked to 25 break‑ins between August and October across Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Sai Kung, Ma On Shan and Aberdeen, with losses estimated at about HK$3.69 million. Officers said the group targeted secluded village houses, striking at dusk when occupants were out, prising open doors and windows or entering through unsecured points to seize valuables that were easy to carry. The largest single case involved a residential flat in Aberdeen, where items worth roughly HK$600,000 were reported stolen.
In a Friday operation spanning Lok Ma Chau and Kwun Tong, officers arrested six suspects aged 31 to 45: four mainland men, one mainland woman and a local man. The detainees are being investigated for burglary, conspiracy to burgle, arranging the journey of unauthorised entrants to Hong Kong, aiding and abetting illegal immigration, and remaining in the city without authority after illegal entry. Police recovered part of the suspected proceeds, including gold, jewellery and watches valued at more than HK$600,000, alongside an alleged getaway vehicle and tools such as scribers and bolt cutters, as well as clothing believed to have been worn during the offences.
Investigators said the alleged ringleaders were a mainland couple who entered on two‑way permits and are accused of coordinating illegal entries, securing temporary bases in Hong Kong and hiring a local driver to ferry burglars to and from target areas. After each raid, suspects allegedly lay low in a remote tin‑sheet hut in Lok Ma Chau while the stolen goods were handed to the masterminds for disposal. The driver is understood to have been paid HK$500 per trip. Three of the mainland suspects are alleged to be illegal immigrants, and two are suspected to be members of the notorious “Wai family gang”.
The syndicate is believed to have become active from late August, operating with defined roles and routes. Following extensive analysis of closed‑circuit television footage to identify suspects, trace vehicle movements and pinpoint hideouts, police launched pre‑dawn arrests on Friday. All six remain in custody for further enquiries, and officers said additional arrests have not been ruled out as the investigation continues.
