Thief threatens to slash own throat with cutter to flee Sha Tin clothing store

A man suspected of stealing clothes worth about HK$1,000 from a shop at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin on Sunday evening escaped after threatening to harm himself with a cutter, police said.

The incident occurred around 7pm when staff spotted the man walking through an anti-theft gate with several items of clothing. When employees tried to stop him, he produced a cutter and pointed it at his own neck. The staff hesitated, and the man fled.

The case has been classified as shop theft. Police are searching for the suspect, described as about 30 years old, of heavy build, and about 1.75 metres tall.