crime · SingTao

Hotel room robbery in Tsim Sha Tsui under probe

about 2 hours ago2 MIN
Hotel room robbery in Tsim Sha Tsui under probe

Summary

A robbery was reported at the Empire Hotel on 32-34 Nathan Road in Tsim Sha Tsui at about 9:30pm to 9:35pm on Monday night. Police and ambulance crews arrived and found a 19-year-old Japanese woman with a neck injury after an assailant allegedly entered her hotel room. Initial police findings said the victim opened the door after hearing the doorbell, and a man then rushed in, assaulted her and grabbed her by the neck before stealing about 300,000 yen in cash. The suspect fled the scene, and the case is being investigated as robbery, with one report also saying it was classified as robbery and assault.

Key Points

  • Police received the report at about 9:30pm to 9:35pm on Monday at a hotel on 32-34 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.
  • am730 identified the location as the Empire Hotel and said the victim was a 19-year-old Japanese woman found with a neck injury
  • Initial inquiries said the victim was inside her room when she heard the doorbell and opened the door without suspecting danger.
  • A man believed to be about 30 to 40 years old allegedly forced his way in, attacked her and at one point gripped her neck
  • The robber stole about 300,000 yen, worth roughly HK$15,000, before escaping; no arrest had been made as of the reports.

Why It Matters

The case raises concern about room-door security in one of Hong Kong's busiest tourist districts, where hotels receive large numbers of short-stay visitors. It also underlines the risks faced by travellers carrying cash and the pressure on police to identify suspects quickly in crimes involving visitors.