Two technicians in Hong Kong have been arrested for allegedly stealing electricity from care homes for the disabled to power a covert bitcoin mining operation. The scheme, which left the care institutions with inflated electricity bills of up to US$1,153 (HK$9,000) was discovered after staff noticed unusually slow internet speeds and suspicious spikes in utility costs.

According to a South China Morning Post report citing police reports, the men—aged 32 and 33—installed eight mining devices in the suspended ceilings of two offices, running them continuously using the care homes’ electricity and internet connections. Five of the machines were found at a facility in the lower-income neighborhood of Sham Shui Po, while three were uncovered at another care home in the residential district of Kwun Tong.

Inspector Ng Tsz-wing of the Sham Shui Po police district’s technology and financial crime squad said the first report came in on Sept. 4 from the Sham Shui Po institution.

“The institution found unusual signs of slowness on the internet network recently and its IT unit subsequently discovered unauthorized equipment was installed in the false ceiling of its office,” Ng explained.

Further investigation revealed similar mining setups at a second location in Sau Mau Ping. Police believe the suspects exploited an August facilities upgrade to discreetly connect the machines to the institutions’ power and network systems.

The pair were arrested on Sept. 5 in Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po on charges of “abstracting electricity,” a crime under Hong Kong’s theft ordinance that carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Authorities emphasized that the case appears to be an isolated incident, with no syndicate involvement.

Inspector Ng urged the public to remain vigilant during renovations or installations, warning that unauthorized equipment could be secretly installed. “The public should also pay more attention to electricity bills or network usage and make relevant checks and notify police in case they find some suspicious circumstances,” he advised.

The investigation is ongoing and authorities have not disclosed the names of the affected institutions. The case has sparked renewed concerns about the misuse of public resources and the hidden costs of crypto mining.

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