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Prompt detection
On November 27, Sham Shui Po District (SSPODIST) received a report from a shop proprietor about her cat being stolen outside her street-level shop. Initial investigation revealed that the culprit fled in the direction of Shek Kip Mei Street after making off with the cat outside the said shop.
An extensive investigation was launched promptly by District Investigation Team, District Intelligence Section, the Divisional Auxiliary Police, Uniform Branch, Task Force Sub-unit and Police Tactical Unit. Having reviewed a multitude of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, distributed leaflets, analysed intelligence and appealed for information through press releases and social media platforms of the Police Public Relations Branch, the Police eventually identified the culprit.
On November 30, the Police arrested a male and located the stolen cat in a building on Larch Street, Tai Kok Tsui. The staff of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals confirmed upon examination that the cat was in good health. The arrested male was charged with one count of theft.
Dognapper outsmarted
On September 8, SSPODIST received a case of theft of a pet dog and blackmail. In the small hours of September 5, the victim, a proprietor of a grocery store, let her dog run freely outside the store but later found that her dog had gone missing. Along with her friends, the victim looked for her dog at every corner and posted wanted posters in the district. Later, the culprit contacted the victim on a social media platform and demanded the victim a ransom of HK$40,000 or her dog would be harmed. The victim then sought assistance from the Police.
Officers of SSPODIST designated team for investigating animal cruelty cases and District Crime Squad took over the case and launched an extensive investigation, including reviewing a vast amount of CCTV footage and analysing intelligence.
On September 11, officers arrested a couple in a public housing estate in Tin Shui Wai and recovered the stolen dog. The male was subsequently sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment on December 1.
The Police appeal to all owners to keep a close watch on their pets to reduce the risk of accidents or crimes.
