A 21-YEAR-OLD Hong Kong resident, identified as Hu, tried to rob a watch store at a shopping mall in Luohu District on March 4 to pay debts racked up by his girlfriend’s excessive spending, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.

    Hu was caught at the MixC, a shopping mall famous for selling luxury brands, after attempting to flee security guards, according to Luohu police.

    Surveillance camera footage showed that Hu tried on two luxury watches at the Rolex store. He was wearing watches on both of his wrists when he ran out of the store. Police said that the two watches were valued at around 359,100 yuan (US$55,122).

    The salesperson chased Hu and shouted for help. Footage shows security guards dragging Hu and eventually pushing him to the ground near the mall’s north entrance.

    The police later said a security guard should be awarded for catching the suspect.

    The security guard, named Xiao Jiaxiong, said that the incident happened around noon and many people were having lunch in the crowded mall.

    “I knew he was the suspect when I saw him running fast and I threw him down when I reached him,” said Xiao. “He was struggling in my arms and trying to bite me, but my colleague helped me.”

    Xiao said the security of MixC is good, because a few of the security guards are former soldiers from the Hong Kong Garrison of People’s Liberation Army.

    The mall’s property management company later awarded Xiao and strengthened the mall’s security forces.

    According to a police officer surnamed Song, Hu admitted that he pretended to be a customer and attempted to steal the luxury watches.

    Hu said that he had been to the shopping mall before and knew there were stores selling expensive goods.

    The suspect arrived in Shenzhen via Huanggang Checkpoint on the same day and took a cab to MixC. He chose the Rolex store because the watches were expensive and it was close to the mall’s north entrance.

    According to Hu, his girlfriend, also a Hong Kong resident, spent money using his credit cards. The suspect owes the bank over 100,000 yuan.

    Hu said he chose to commit the robbery in Shenzhen because he was afraid of being caught in Hong Kong and being exposed on Hong Kong media, embarrassing his family.

    The police officer said Hu could face seven years in prison because of the amount of money involved.

    (Zhang Qian)