A 10-year-old boy in Hong Kong, dressed in his school uniform, was arrested for his involvement in a luxury watch heist. The robbery, which targeted a VIP Station store on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, involved the boy and two other robbers wearing caps and surgical masks to conceal their identities. They used a butcher’s knife and a sledgehammer to threaten the store staff, smashing display counters and making off with around 20 luxury watches, including Rolex timepieces. The entire heist took just 30 seconds. A female staff member suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.
The 10-year-old boy, who had skipped school that day, later revealed during the investigation that he was paid HK$5,000 to participate in the robbery. He was taken to the crime scene for a re-enactment before being arrested. Another 14-year-old suspect was also arrested during a raid on a guest house in Yuen Long. The police initially arrested a 19-year-old suspect on the day of the robbery, and they were able to recover all the stolen watches from a backpack found nearby. Additionally, a 17-year-old student was detained for suspicion of misleading the police. A vehicle believed to have been used in the robbery was discovered in an outdoor car park, and officers seized a knife and two hammers from the vehicle.
This incident is a startling example of juvenile involvement in serious criminal activities and has raised concerns about the circumstances that led a 10-year-old to participate in such a crime.