115. Two other pay-roll robberies were reported and in each the robbers carried imitation firearms; in one, $20,000 in cash was stolen outside a bank and in the other $17,000 in cash was stolen from the private car in which it was being carried to the New Territories. No arrest has yet been made in either case.
116. Two cases occurred inside lifts; in each case the lone robber produced a knife and demanded property from females. One of these cases was cleared by arrest.
117. Another case of note occurred when a police constable was robbed of his revolver. The officer had arrested a man for loitering at night; a second came to the prisoner's aid and together they assaulted the constable and robbed him of his revolver. Three persons were sub- sequently arrested and charged with housebreaking offences in addition to robbery, and the revolver recovered.
118. The remaining cases were, in the main, committed by hooligans who waylaid pedestrians on lonely roads or dark staircases; 27 were armed with knives and 13 with other weapons. Only fifteen cases occurred on private premises. The value of property stolen in all cases totalled $548,608 of which $53,454 was recovered.
Larceny from the Person
119. The number of true cases recorded during the year totalled 780, a decrease of 225 compared with the preceding year and a decrease of 389 compared with the year 1957/58. The decrease was particularly noticeable in snatching cases which dropped by 25%. Snatching cases detected totalled 245 or 63%, while 293 or 75% of reported pickpocket offences were detected. The Police Supervisee system has undoubtedly contributed to this decrease in the number of offences and the high rates of detection.
Other Larcenies
120. The number of Larceny from Dwelling cases recorded totalled 775, compared with 727 in 1958/59 and 886 in 1957/58. 256 or 33% were detected compared with 33% and 26% in the two preceding years. Property to the value of $327,123 was stolen, of which $35,079 was recovered.
121. The number of Larceny from Vehicle cases recorded totalled 469 compared with 552 during 1958/59; 193 or 41% were detected, an increase in the detection rate of 3%.
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