Police on Thursday said they believe a suspected burglar, who died after being found unconscious at Lantau's Sea Ranch, had fallen from height.

Officers said the mainland man, who's 37, crossed the border on a two-way permit on Tuesday.

They suspect he was part of a gang of three burgling homes at the isolated resort.

Residents from five homes reported that their place had been broken into, with HK$7,000 and some cigarettes missing.

Police said two of the suspects had returned to the mainland on Wednesday, and they would seek help from their mainland counterparts if needed.

Officers said they found a trail of blood from one of the blocks at the resort, adding the deceased had a blow to his head, with his jaw and teeth broken.

An autopsy would be conducted to establish the cause of death.

Officers added they had received four reports of burglary at Sea Ranch since last December, and investigations were ongoing. No arrests have been made over those cases so far.