Locked up: Police seized an air pistol, hammers and knives after arresting a robbery gang.

Police have neutralised an armed-robbery syndicate in Tsim Sha Tsui, arresting five Mainland men aged 20 to 34. They have been jointly charged with one count of conspiracy to rob and will appear in Kowloon City Magistracy tomorrow.

About 1pm yesterday, officers raided a hotel room in Mong Kok, arresting a 34-year-old Mainland man and seizing a hammer, gloves, two plastic knife sheaths and several glue sticks.

Officers arrested four other Mainland men, aged 20 to 29, on Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, seizing an air pistol, two knives, a hammer and four baseball caps in their possession.

The men were planning to rob jewellery shops in the Tsim Sha Tsui area. They had smeared glue on their fingertips to avoid leaving fingerprints. All five are two-way permit holders who arrived in Hong Kong July 10.