On 11/3, the Bac Ninh Provincial Police announced that their investigative police agency had indicted Nam, 21, residing in Da Mai ward, for property theft. Nam is currently a third-year student at Dai Nam University in Hanoi.

Than Van Nam points to where he opened the safe to steal gold. *Photo: Police provided*

According to the police, on 20/2 (the 4th day of Tet Nguyen Dan, or Lunar New Year), Nam visited a relative's house on Bao Ngoc street, Da Mai ward, to attend a spring-opening meal with others. Noticing a vulnerability in the safe there, Nam conceived the idea of theft.

On the morning of 21/2, Nam returned to the homeowner's house, took three SJC gold taels from the safe, and sold one for 180 million dong. He used part of the money to pay debts and bought an iPhone 17 Pro Max for his girlfriend. The remaining amount was used for personal expenses and kept in his account.

Nam hid the two remaining gold taels at his house. On 28/2, the homeowner discovered the gold missing and reported it to the police.

Authorities determined that the house door showed no signs of forced entry, and tens of millions of dong in cash inside the safe remained untouched. However, the three gold taels stored beneath the safe's lining mat were gone.

The two gold taels Nam had not yet sold were seized. *Photo: Police provided*

During a search of Nam's house on 1/3, police seized two SJC gold taels and other related evidence. Nam's girlfriend later returned the phone.