In a Lunar New Year’s Day raid, two burglars smashed the window of a luxury goods shop in the IFC Mall in Central and fled with 40 watches – in front of a security guard.
In less than two minutes, one of them broke open the glass door of Montblanc with a sledgehammer. It was about 11.40pm on Saturday, after the shop had been closed for the whole day.
Said to be non-Chinese and wearing surgical masks and knitted caps, the duo defied the guard and smashed three glass showcases inside, sweeping the watches into a bag. At one point, they threatened the guard with the sledgehammer.
At a taxi stand outside, the pair jumped into a car driven by a third man and sped off.
Police say the German chain, which sells watches, writing instruments and jewellery, has confirmed that about 40 watches valued at a total of HK$1 million (US$128,875) were snatched.
The Central district crime squad is investigating