Hong Kong police have arrested two men after a businessman was punched, kicked and robbed of a HK$800,000 (US$102,411) watch by four people outside a shopping centre in the New Territories.
Senior Inspector Cheung Man-tik of the Tsuen Wan district crime squad said on Tuesday the 30-year-old victim was attacked outside Lik Sang Plaza on Wun Tung Street in Tsuen Wan.
He added four robbers stole the luxury Patek Philippe watch, a handbag and a mobile phone along with HK$3,000 in cash from the victim and fled in a getaway car driven by a fifth man.
Police said the stolen items were worth a total of HK$809,000.
The force added the businessman suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.
The incident happened at about 8pm on June 28.
Police arrested the two men, aged 27 and 28, on Sunday after they checked surveillance footage and identified the suspects. Officers also impounded a car used in the hold-up.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrestees planned the robbery after a dispute over money with the victim,” Cheung said.
He added that further arrests were not ruled out and that the investigation continued.
A source said the watch had not been recovered and police were still searching for at least three other men in connection with the incident.
The two suspects were still being held for questioning on Tuesday afternoon.
Cheung said police would spare no effort to bring all suspects to justice and warned that robbery was punishable by up to life in prison.
Police logged 36 reports of robbery in the first five months of the year, down 28 per cent from the 50 cases over the same period in 2023.
