Man arrested after HK$1 million in gems stolen from hotel guest asleep in lobby

Hong Kong police have arrested a man and recovered uncut gemstones worth nearly HK$1 million (US$127,500) that were allegedly snatched from an overseas businessman as he slept in a hotel lobby.

The force said on Monday that the suspected theft happened a day earlier while the businessman, a 29-year-old jeweller from Sri Lanka, was in the city for the “Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong September” trade fair.

The jewellery was allegedly taken from the victim as he slept in the lobby, where he was waiting to check in at a hotel near Hong Kong International Airport.

Police said the suspect was believed to have taken advantage of the situation to search the businessman’s backpack placed on his luggage and removed a batch of uncut gemstones valued at nearly HK$1 million before fleeing.