Business-class flier arrested over theft of HK$10,750 in cash
Mainland traveller is accused of stealing HK$10,750 in cash from overhead bins
A mainlander who was flying business class on board a Dragonair flight yesterday was arrested on suspicion of stealing US$1,000 and HK$3,000 in cash from overhead bins.
The man, 42, allegedly took the money from two luggage bags stowed in the storage compartments at about 5am en route from the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka to Hong Kong, police said.
The bags belonged to two other passengers.
A pair of flight attendants discovered the thefts and alerted Hong Kong police.
After the plane landed at Chek Lap Kok airport at about 7am, crime-squad officers went on board to investigate.
They recovered the money and arrested the mainlander.
Last night, the suspect was being held for questioning at the airport's police station and had not been charged yet.
The latest police figures showed 36 reports of inflight theft were recorded in the first six months of this year, with 17 mainlanders arrested.
Among the stolen properties were cash, mobile phones and jewellery, according to Inspector Chan Chun-ip of the airport police's intelligence unit.
"The biggest case involved HK$780,000 in cash and valuables," Chan said.
He could not say whether any arrest was made in that case.
As the summer holidays approach, Chan appealed to the public to keep an eye on their belongings while travelling aboard.
"[Travellers] should ensure their valuables and cash are with them and should not store these items in the overhead lockers."
In the past, cases of alleged theft onboard in-bound flights to Hong Kong had gone unprosecuted because of ambiguity in aviation laws.
