On 2/12/2024, Dong Hung Thuan Ward Police, formerly of District 12, temporarily detained a 23-year-old man for criminal investigation into property snatching. His identity has not been released.

The man pretended to buy gold necklaces, then grabbed the jewelry and fled. Video: Security camera

According to the investigation, on the afternoon of 29/11/2024, the man, dressed well, wearing a fashionable baseball cap and a face mask, entered a gold shop in Dong Hung Thuan Ward. He asked to purchase two gold necklaces, telling the owner he was preparing for a wedding.

The unsuspecting shop owner showed him a necklace weighing three chi of 24K gold, valued at over 46 million VND. The man held the necklace to examine it, then inquired about a box. As the owner prepared to retrieve the box, the man suddenly grabbed the gold and fled.

At that moment, the ward's public order police team and grassroots security forces were directing traffic at a nearby intersection. Hearing the shouts of the shop owner and residents, they pursued the suspect. As officers closed in, the robber held a knife to his own neck, screaming and threatening suicide.

After allowing him to move to a nearby road segment, the ward police, with the help of residents, subdued him and recovered the stolen items and the knife.

Evidence seized by police. Photo: Ho Chi Minh City Police

During interrogation, the man stated his hometown is Nghe An. He moved to Ho Chi Minh City for work after finishing 12th grade. He claimed he was heavily in debt and needed money for expenses after recently meeting a girlfriend, which led him to conceive the idea of robbing a gold shop.

Regarding the knife, the individual admitted he intended "to end his own life if cornered."

Quoc Thang