Police bust syndicate stealing credit cards in public venues, $4.2m involved

Police have arrested seven men over a citywide crime syndicate accused of stealing credit cards in crowded public places and using them to make large purchases at luxury shops before reselling the goods on the black market, with losses totaling more than HK$4.2 million.

The arrests were made on December 12 and 13 in connection with at least 22 cases of theft and deception. The suspects, aged between 30 and 60, were detained on suspicion of theft and obtaining property by deception and are being held for further investigation.

According to Senior Inspector Chui Wai-ying, police received multiple reports between September and December of wallets being tampered with and credit cards later used for unauthorized high-value transactions across different districts.

Investigations revealed that the syndicate operated in a highly organized manner, targeting crowded venues on Hong Kong Island and in Kowloon, including sports grounds, cafes, and restaurants.

Members would wait for victims to become distracted while exercising or dining, then discreetly remove one or two credit cards from their wallets and return the wallets to their original positions.

By leaving wallets behind and taking only some of the cards, the suspects made it difficult for victims to notice the theft immediately. Many only became aware of the crime after receiving transaction alerts from their banks.

Once the cards were obtained, they were quickly passed through intermediaries to other members of the group, who would then make rapid purchases at different luxury outlets. These included clothing and handbag stores, as well as shops selling dried seafood and tonic food products.

Individual transactions ranged from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands, with some suspects using stolen cards to buy luxury watches priced at up to HK$300,000.

Police believe the group aimed to exhaust the credit limits as quickly as possible before the cards were canceled, with the purchased items later resold on the black market.

Officers from the Hong Kong Island Regional Crime Unit analyzed and consolidated a large volume of closed-circuit television footage, identifying different roles within the syndicate, including pickpockets, intermediaries, and bogus buyers. By tracking their routes, handover methods, and spending patterns, police were able to identify and arrest the seven suspects.

Police reminded the public to remain vigilant and take extra care of personal belongings, particularly when exercising, dining, or staying in crowded places. Wallets and handbags should be kept within sight or in secure positions at all times.

Anyone who discovers a missing or stolen credit card should immediately notify the issuing bank, cancel the card, and activate transaction alerts to detect suspicious activity as early as possible, the force added.

Retailers were also urged to stay alert when handling large credit card transactions and to verify that the card user is the legitimate holder. Police advised merchants to request identification when necessary and to contact authorities promptly if suspicious behavior is detected.