Hong Kong bank robbery suspect's ‘illogical' target sparks online debate
A man suspected of robbing a Hong Kong bank with a knife and injuring a staff member could be charged as soon as Wednesday night, the Post has learned, with the establishment's proximity to his neighbourhood sparking a heated online discussion.
The jobless man, 49, was handed over to Hong Kong police on Tuesday after he was detained in Shenzhen for allegedly robbing a branch of Hang Seng Bank in Sha Tin the day before.
His girlfriend, 34, was also arrested on suspicion of aiding his escape after he made off with about HK$382,000 (US$48,700) in cash.
A source said on Wednesday that the force aimed to lay a charge of robbery against the man, adding that the woman was still being questioned.
'They were only arrested last night, so they are still giving statements. Police need more time to investigate. But the force is leaning towards laying a holding charge against the man,' the insider said.
The man allegedly entered the bank at the Fortune City One shopping centre on Ngan Shing Street alone on Monday afternoon.
At around 5pm, he allegedly took a butcher knife measuring 30cm (11.8 inches) out of a paper bag and held the weapon to a female employee's neck.
The Cantonese-speaking man then allegedly forced her to take money from a counter, about HK$382,000 in various currencies, before putting the knife and money into the paper bag and fleeing.
Police said the man fled to his flat in City One, a private estate in Sha Tin, after the robbery.
A source earlier said that members of an elite police tactical unit commonly known as the Flying Tigers were searching for the man at block 50 of City One.
The suspect then changed clothes and drove his own vehicle to the Heung Yuen Wai border checkpoint. He entered Shenzhen with a woman whom police said was his girlfriend.
The force later found the vehicle in a car park at the checkpoint.
The bank robbery has ignited widespread public attention and online discussion, with many internet users questioning the suspect's seemingly 'illogical' action.
'There are CCTV cameras everywhere. He even targeted a bank in his own neighbourhood and went home to change clothes before he drove his own car to escape. It's just illogical,' an online user said.
Another commented: 'Out of all the places, he chose [mainland] China to hide. Genius.'
'In this day and age of telephone scams that steal billions of dollars, I can't believe someone would risk their life to bother with traditional bank robbing for such a relatively small sum,' another user said.
Some users also praised the prompt action of law enforcement.
'I heard he escaped across the border, and I must admit I was a bit surprised. But in hindsight, this is looking very impressive that Hong Kong police have shown that they can catch the suspect from across the border too,' one said.
'Most other countries couldn't even dream of catching suspects so fast and even from across borders.' - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
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