27th August 2025 – (Hong Kong) Police in Tsim Sha Tsui received a report on the morning of 26th August regarding the theft of art piece created by French street artist Invader. The artwork, located in Harbour City mall on Canton Road, was discovered missing on the afternoon of 25th August. Surveillance footage revealed that two foreign nationals had allegedly stolen the piece earlier that day.
Following an extensive review of CCTV footage, officers from the Yau Tsim Police District Crime Investigation Team identified the suspects. A 40-year-old Irish man and a 32-year-old Filipino woman were arrested on the afternoon of 26th August on suspicion of theft. Both suspects are currently in custody for further investigation. During the operation, police recovered the stolen artwork as well as the clothing worn by the suspects during the incident. Reports indicate that one of the suspects claimed to have committed the theft out of admiration for Invader’s work.
The stolen artwork, inspired by pixelated visuals from 1970s and 1980s video games, features a Pac-Man design. Measuring approximately 30cm by 50cm, the piece was crafted using ceramic tiles and secured to a wall two metres high with double-sided tape. CCTV footage captured the male suspect forcibly removing the artwork and placing it in his bag, while the female suspect stood nearby. The two were later seen leaving the mall in a taxi bound for Yau Ma Tei. Police subsequently apprehended them at separate locations and retrieved the stolen item.
Invader, a pseudonymous French artist, is renowned for his ceramic tile mosaics inspired by retro video game characters, including those from Space Invaders and Pac-Man.
Authorities reminded the public that under Section 9 of Hong Kong’s Theft Ordinance (Cap. 210), theft is a criminal offence punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The Yau Tsim Police District has pledged to maintain high-profile patrols to safeguard public safety and combat criminal activity, urging citizens not to break the law.
