Hong Kong, Jan 20 (IANS): Plain-clothes detectives have joined officers on patrol in response to a crime surge in Hong Kong, as offenders cash in on the diversion of police resources for the citys anti-government protests, a media report said on Monday.

Burglary reports increased by 44 per cent from the first 11 months of 2018 to the same period last year, while robberies went up 28 per cent, the South China Morning Post said in the report citing police figures.

Most of the cases came after the social unrest broke out in June 2019, sparked by the now-withdrawn extradition bill.

Tsang Chung-bun, Assistant Commander of Yau Tsim district, where burglary reports for the second half of 2019 hit a five-year high, said it was inevitable that protests would take their toll on police resources.

"But we need a better patrol plan within stretched manpower," he said.

"Many districts have been mapping out solutions which include sending crime investigation department (CID) officers to the street.

"Plain-clothes CID officers patrol together with beat officers to boost manpower, as officers are prone to attacks," the Assistant Commander added.

Earlier this month, the force tracked down three teens accused of snatching HK$10 million ($1.3 million) in cash from a mainland Chinese man in the city's Tsim Sha Tsui area, the South China Morning Post report said.

Hong Kong has been gripped by more than seven months of social unrest sparked by opposition to draft legislation that would have allowed the extradition of suspects to mainland China, among other jurisdictions.

The protests have developed into a broader anti-government movement with demands including restarting the city's stalled political reform process.

Demonstrations have repeatedly ended in clashes between anti-government protesters and police.