Man arrested in connection with TST jewellery shop shooting

[FacetheMusic]

Man arrested in connection with TST jewellery shop shooting

HK police say their mainland counterparts arrested man alleged to have shot manager of Tsim Sha Tsui store; they may seek his return to the city

PUBLISHED : Sunday, 12 April, 2015, 3:54pm
UPDATED : Monday, 13 April, 2015, 3:05am

Samuel Chan [email protected]

Police officers outside the Tsim Sha Tsui jewellers after the manager was shot during a raid. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The lone mainland robber who allegedly shot a shop manager in a HK$5.5 million raid in Tsim Sha Tsui last month was arrested in Shenzhen on March 28 and is also a suspect in an attempted armed robbery over the border, according to Hong Kong and Shenzhen police.

Hong Kong police said a joint investigation with their mainland counterparts had led to the arrest of the 27-year-old man, surnamed Liang, and the recovery of all nine Patek Philippe watches stolen from Collectors Watch and Jewellery in Peking Road on March 12.

A wig, a black cap and a note left in case he died were among items found in the suspect's Shenzhen home. Police there suspect the man disguised himself during the Tsim Sha Tsui raid. They also allege he used a mask, wig and sunglasses in an attempted armed robbery on a high-end watch shop in Luohu district in Shenzhen on March 1.

Internet search records from a laptop seized from Liang showed that he had searched for addresses of pawn shops in Macau and stores which sold Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe watches in Guangdong and Hong Kong.

Shenzhen authorities also arrested another 27-year-old man who was alleged to have helped hide the loot, according to a Shenzhen police statement. They found the watches and weapons, including a pistol, seven US-made crossbows capable of firing metal bullets and arrows, bullets and knives at his home in Maoming , in western Guangdong, on March 30.

A Hong Kong police spokeswoman said the force would explore the possibility of the transfer of the two suspects in their discussions with mainland authorities, but "there is nothing to announce at the moment".

It was the first time that a shot had been fired during a robbery in the city in more than a decade. The robbery prompted police to enhance patrols and surveillance in the tourist district.

Police believe the suspect shot the 57-year-old manager in an attempt to prevent the four other staff - who were thought to have seen through his charade of posing as a big-spending mainland customer - from stopping him.

The victim was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but he has since stabilised and was sent home. The watch shop yesterday refused to say whether he had returned to work.

Apart from seeking assistance from their mainland counterparts, police had considered offering a cash reward for information on the wanted man.

While Hong Kong has signed agreements for the surrender of fugitive offenders with 17 countries including the United States, Britain and India, it still has no formal extradition agreement with mainland China or with Taiwan or Macau.