In a shocking turn of events, a ten-year-old boy has found himself at the center of a high-profile robbery case in Hong Kong at a “VIP Station” watch store in Hong Kong’s Tsim Sha Tsui district on September 11, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Boy’s Involvement
What sets this robbery apart from others is the involvement of a ten-year-old boy. It has been reported that he was allegedly paid HK$5,000 (about S$870) to skip school and join the criminal escapade, according to HK01.
The young boy, standing at approximately 1.7 meters tall, concealed his school uniform with a jacket. During the heist, he shockingly wielded a knife and actively participated in the theft of luxury watches.
The Robbery Unfolds
The scene was set on a seemingly ordinary Monday afternoon when chaos erupted at the “VIP Station” watch store.
At approximately 3:40 PM, three armed robbers stormed into the shop, brandishing knives and sledgehammers. The store’s staff faced a terrifying ordeal as they were held at knifepoint.
The Haul
What made this heist particularly daring was the audacity of the robbers. With their weapons menacingly on display, they proceeded to shatter the display counters containing an array of luxury watches.
In a matter of minutes, they managed to seize a staggering 20 luxury watches valued at an eye-watering HK$3.7 million (S$642,906).
With their ill-gotten gains in tow, the robbers made a swift exit. They fled the scene in a seven-seater Toyota vehicle, cunningly driven by a fourth accomplice. Their daring escape left both the authorities and the public stunned.
A Transnational Twist
The story takes an even more intriguing turn when we learn that the young boy had migrated to Hong Kong from Pakistan in 2018 to join his parents. His background adds an element of complexity to this already perplexing case.
The authorities were quick to respond to this brazen act. On the evening of September 12, a day after the robbery, the young boy was apprehended by police officers when he left school.
Collateral Arrests
The boy was not the only one to face the consequences of his actions. Three other suspects were also taken into custody in connection with the robbery.
- On the day of the heist, a 19-year-old Pakistani man was detained near Kowloon Peak, and the stolen watches were discovered in a backpack hidden in the nearby bushes.
- On September 12, local police arrested a 14-year-old Indian boy during a raid in a guest house in Yuen Long. It was revealed that he was a Form 1 student studying in Kowloon.
- Additionally, on September 11, a 17-year-old Pakistani student was taken into custody. He is believed to be the brother of one of the main suspects and was arrested on suspicion of misleading the police. The police are still actively searching for his older brother, who is believed to be the driver of the getaway car used in the heist.
A Break in the Case
As the investigation unfolds, police have made significant progress. Notably, they have recovered the car believed to have been used in the robbery, which was found in Kowloon Bay.
Furthermore, a knife and two hammers were discovered within the vehicle, providing crucial evidence in this perplexing case.
Header images source: HK01