Police on Wednesday said they had arrested three males aged 11 to 13 on suspicion of stealing plush toys worth about HK$1,000 from a claw machine.

The alleged offence happened at a shop in Tsuen Wan.

Officers said the suspects were arrested in Tin Shui Wai on Monday on suspicion of criminal damage and theft and were later released on bail.

"Since the beginning of the year, there have been 32 theft cases involving claw machines in the New Territories South police region... And counting from the start of July until Tuesday, in just one and a half months, there have been 15 reports of thefts associated with claw machines. The situation is concerning," said Senior Inspector Li Jinpeng.

Li added that shoplifting is a serious crime.