Christmas panda theft: Woman fined for stealing plush toy at Kwun Tong celebration

In Kwun Tong Town Centre's Free Space, a Christmas celebration is currently underway featuring 80 panda exhibits. However, one panda plush toy was stolen, leading to the arrest of a 37-year-old woman. She appeared in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court today (Dec. 24) and pleaded guilty to a theft charge. The magistrate fined her HK$500 and ordered her to compensate the management company of the site, Yue Man Square, HK$250.

The defendant, a housewife holding a two-way permit to Hong Kong, admitted to stealing the panda plush toy, valued at HK$250, from the UG level of Yue Man Square on Dec. 12, 2024.

According to the case details, a security guard discovered the missing panda plush around 8 PM on Dec. 12 and, upon reviewing CCTV footage, found that the toy had been stolen. Police arrested the defendant on Dec. 14 in Sau Mau Ping. During questioning, she stated, "I thought the panda plush was cute, so I took it for my son to play with. While he was playing, it fell and broke, and I disposed of it in the trash."

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