Hong Kong police hunt 3 suspects over US$12 million gold theft

Hong Kong police have launched a major manhunt for three individuals connected to an audacious gold heist valued at approximately US$12 million. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the crime occurred at a privately owned gold shop located in the Peninsula Square commercial building on Sung On Street in Hung Hom. Authorities received a report around 2:57 PM on Friday from a woman who stated the shop owner believed he had been burgled. However, investigative sources reveal the theft was not a traditional break-in but an act of deception.

A source familiar with the case indicated that a former partner of the gold shop is the primary suspect, having allegedly tricked the on-duty manager into physically handing over a massive haul of 73 kilograms of gold bars. The method of this deception points to a potentially sophisticated social engineering scheme, raising questions in law enforcement circles about the possible use of AI-generated communications or deepfake technology to facilitate the fraud. Following the handover, the suspect, along with his wife and a male driver, swiftly fled the scene in a black Tesla vehicle. In the ensuing investigation, police intercepted a white car near a toll plaza on the North Lantau Highway—a route toward the airport—but later determined it was unrelated to the case.

The scale and method of this theft place it among the most significant precious metal heists in recent Hong Kong history. The incident underscores a shifting landscape in high-value crime, where digital deception can circumvent physical security. Police are now examining communication records and local surveillance footage, with the international value of the stolen gold likely triggering cross-border investigative cooperation to track the suspects and recover the assets.