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In view of the notable increase in the number of goldsmith shop robberies in the first seven months of this year when compared with the same period of last year, the Crime Prevention Bureau (CPB), in collaboration with six Regional Crime Prevention Offices (RCPOs) and uniformed officers, organised a territory-wide publicity day “Operation PILOTCHASE” to fight against goldsmith shop robberies on October 8.
Superintendent of CPB Lau Kar-ming delivered remarks for the kick-off of the publicity campaign and attended a media interview with Commander of Yuen Long Division (YLDIV) Yip Kim-ying. Thereafter, the campaign was launched in Yuen Long District (YLDIST) to strengthen the trade’s awareness of shop security. The production crew of the Police Public Relations Branch also covered the campaign and the related video was uploaded to the Police’s social media platforms.
To step up publicity, CPB designed an informative publicity pamphlet tailor-made for goldsmith shop robberies. Members of the trade can access the contact information of police report rooms and Task Force Sub-units of various districts, as well as advice for enhancing the security of goldsmith, watch and jewellery shops through the QR code on the pamphlet. Mr Lau and
Ms Yip paid visits to goldsmith, watch and jewellery shops in YLDIST to distribute publicity pamphlets and provide shopkeepers and assistants with a number of recommendations against robberies, such as installing laminated security glass together with intruder alarm systems and high-definition closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), as well as remaining vigilant on suspicious vehicles, thereby enhancing trade members’ awareness of crime prevention and shop security.
On that day, officers from various RCPOs, together with Chairpersons and members of District Fight Crime Committees (DFCCs), distributed publicity pamphlets to goldsmith, watch and jewellery shops. Frontline police officers from various Police Regions were mobilised to conduct high-profile uniformed patrols in high-risk areas and mount intelligence-led operations at crime black spots to combat robberies. In the first seven months of this year, the Police recorded a total of nine robbery cases involving goldsmith and jewellery shops with four cases detected. One of these cases occurred in Yau Ma Tei, in which robbers smashed the showcase with a hammer and looted gold ornaments worth HK$140,000. Upon extensive CCTV viewing, the investigation team arrested four culprits successfully and seized part of the stolen property. Another detected case occurred in YLDIV, in which nine culprits were arrested with four of them being charged with robbery after in-depth intelligence analysis by the investigation team.
During the publicity campaign, trade members positively responded to the Police’s series of actions against goldsmith shop robberies and expressed their will to assist the Police and motivate the community to join the fight against crime.
