A would-be burglar in Sham Shui Po enjoyed tea, cigarettes, and conversation with the family of a house he'd broken into before turning himself in to the police on Wednesday.
The robber had already managed to hit two sixth-floor apartments – swiping HKD10,000 and some valuables – but his night of thievery came to an abrupt close when he fell during an attempt to shimmy down the scaffolding to a clean getaway, hurting his back and breaking a fifth-floor window in the process. The family inside wasn't thrilled.
The family – a 56-year-old site worker, his wife, and their adult son – told police to keep quiet and stay outside while they talked to the man. The father wasn't afraid, he said, and believed he'd be able to persuade the intruder to turn himself in.
"When officers first banged on the door, the man found a fruit knife in the kitchen. He did not use the weapon to threaten my family, but pointed the knife against his own neck," the father told South China Morning Post.
"I told officers that if you want to put my family in danger, you could break down the security gate and enter my flat."
DON'T MISS: Thief sneaks from building onto AC unit outside, gets stuck there for 40 hours
While the cops waited outside, the 22-year-old criminal helped himself to seven packs of lemon tea from the fridge, and some cigarettes the family offered him. Once the edge was sufficiently taken off, they asked if he were ready to face the music.
"He was co-operative. He made several phone calls before he left and gave himself up," the father said.
The intruder was arrested on exit and taken to Princess Margaret Hospital for his back injury, wrapping up yet another story in which well-placed tea saves the day.
RELATED: Mainland teen tries to rob home of Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-shing, fails spectacularly
[Image via SCMP]
0 User Comments