Hong Kong police to use public address drones to fight rural burglary over summer holidays

Drones and increased police patrols to be used to combat countryside crime over summer season, when burglary risk increases

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Police drones with PA systems will broadcast anti-crime messages in rural areas over the summer. Photo: May Tse

Published: 11:04pm, 16 Jul 2024Updated: 1:29am, 17 Jul 2024

Hong Kong police are to increase patrols and use drones as public address systems announcements as part of a campaign to cut countryside burglaries in the Sai Kung area over the summer when the crime risk is higher.

Inspector Michael Man Lap-hang from the Tseung Kwan O police district said on Tuesday that officers would mount extra patrols while the rural patrol cadre and the police dog team would carry out regular exercises as residents from countryside residential areas left home on holiday.

“As such, the police believe there is a risk of burglary in the rural areas in these two months,” Man explained as the force held an anti-burglary exercise in Sai Kung.

“In previous cases, we are aware that criminals tend to target hillside houses, exploiting the hours of darkness and the cover of the jungle to commit burglaries.”

Man said his district had recorded 12 rural burglary cases in the first five months of the year, a 9 per cent increase on the same period in 2023.

Police and rural patrol cadre officers use drones and police dogs in a burglar-busting exercise mounted in Sai Kung. Photo: May Tse

The biggest case involved losses worth HK$260,000 (US$33,300) from a home where cash, interior decorations and diamond jewellery stored in a safe were stolen.