Theft syndicate members sentenced to jail

Five men, aged between 26 and 34, were sentenced ranging from ten months to 34 months imprisonment upon conviction of six counts of theft and two counts of handling stolen goods at the District Court today (June 29).

The court heard that the defendants were members of a theft syndicate active in stealing expensive goods from department store and computer shops in Kowloon and the New Territories.

Crime officers in Kowloon West Region mounted a special operation against the syndicate in December last year.

After three months investigation, the operation turned overt on February 17 this year. Police arrested seven men and one woman, aged from 26 to 54, and recovered a large quantity of stolen goods including lady handbags, digital cameras, amplifiers, watches, and computer hard disc worth over $220,000.

Five of the arrested persons were subsequently charged with different offences including theft and handling stolen goods.

The defendants were convicted and sentences were handed down today.


Police Report No. 9

Issued by PPRB

Ends/Thursday, June 29, 2006