Four people suspected of stealing HK$3.1 million (US$395,000) in gaming chips and cash in a daring robbery at Macau’s Four Seasons Hotel early Friday were arrested by Zhuhai police less than 24 hours later.
The suspects, from mainland China, are alleged to have grabbed chips and cash from a baccarat hotel in the early hours of Friday after using pepper spray on a dealer and security guard during the heist. All HK$3.1 million was reportedly recovered during the arrests.
According to police, the two men alleged to have stolen the chips were arrested while trying to cross the border gate back to mainland China while a man and a woman involved in making a deal to purchase the stolen chips were arrested in a hotel in Cotai.
The incident comes just a week after Macau authorities revealed a 14.1% increase in gaming-related crimes in the first three months of 2019 with 438 incidents in the SAR.