Sleeping man loses HK$250000 of gems in fast-food restaurant - South China Morning Post

A man yesterday lost a suitcase full of gems worth HK$250,000 when he fell asleep at a McDonald's restaurant in Central. Photo: May Tse

A man yesterday lost a suitcase full of gems worth HK$250,000 when he fell asleep at a McDonald's restaurant in Central.

The man, identified only by his surname Mak, 57, arrived at the 24-hour McCafe in the basement of the Yu To Sang Building in Queen's Road Central just before 5am, while the typhoon signal No 8 was still in force.

He is believed to be a regular customer who often visits the fast-food restaurant at about the same time.

Police said he placed his brown leather bag under the table before he fell asleep.

When he awoke about an hour later, he found that his luggage was missing and called the police.

Mak told police his bag contained about 200 gemstones and ornaments, as well as some documents.

He estimated the haul to be worth about HK$250,000.

Detectives from Central police station who are investigating the theft are also looking into Mak's background and why he was carrying so many valuables with him.

Crime squad officers identified a man of South Asian origin as a suspect after studying the fast-food chain's closed-circuit television footage.

"The CCTV tape showed that the suspect struck shortly after 5.30am. He snatched the luggage when the victim was asleep," a police investigator said.

"We believe the thief was an opportunist and that he worked alone."

Officers mounted a search for the suspect and the missing luggage in the area after viewing the CCTV footage, but did not find the man.

Police are now seeking the man, who is about 1.7 metres tall and aged between 30 and 35. He was wearing a white shirt and dark trousers at the time of the theft.

A police officer said such forms of theft were typical among gangs that looked for opportunities in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and other major shopping districts.

"They prey on targets in restaurants, coffee shops and shopping malls and steal unattended bags and luggage," he said.

"Some pick up targets in banks and jewellery or watch shops, follow them and wait for an opportunity to steal."

According to police figures, there were reports of 15,699 thefts in the first half of the year. There were 16,774 cases in the same period last year.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Sleeping man loses HK$250,000 of gems