Hong Kong police arrest man over HK$10,000 cash theft on inbound flight

Hong Kong police on Sunday arrested a man from mainland China for allegedly stealing more than HK$10,000 (US$1,286) worth of cash from a passenger’s backpack on an inbound flight from Bangkok.

The force revealed on Monday it had received a report from an airline staff member that the money in the passenger’s backpack – HK$6,500 and 30,000 Philippine pesos – which had been stored in the overhead compartment during the flight, was missing.

After preliminary investigations, a 58-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft, and charged with one count of contravention of Aviation Security Ordinance.

The case was brought before the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.

Hong Kong recorded 169 cases of in-flight thefts involving HK$4.32 million (US$555,716) worth of valuables in the first 10 months of 2024.