Vietnamese police are searching for a man who snatched a handbag containing cash and personal papers from a Danish woman in front of a hotel in Hanoi on Thursday, local media reported the same day.  

>> An audio version of story is available here

>> Two youths get three years each for snatching phone from Thai tourist The victim, Ulla Merete Schmidt, 58, told the police of Hang Gai Ward, Hoan Kiem District, that she lost her handbag to a snatcher when she was in Tam Thuong alley at midnight yesterday, according to Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper.  The snatching occurred as soon as the woman arrived at the hotel from Noi Bai International Airport by bus. The alley was empty at that time and a big young man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and approached Schmidt while she was waiting for the hotel’s staff to open the gate, the woman said. After pretending to ask her a question, the man immediately snatched her handbag and then got on a motorbike parked nearby and escaped, Schmidt said. The incident took place as quick as lightning and all she could remember was that the thief was a big young man, she said. The lost handbag contained US$50 and VND500,000 ($23.4) in cash, a passport, and some important papers, the woman said. The hotel’s owner said he took Schmidt to the ward police to report the incident and brought her back around 2:00 am and let her stay free of charge, according to news website VietNamNet. Later in the morning, Schmidt and the hotel’s owner returned to the police station to obtain a certificate of lost property, which she will submit to the Danish Embassy in Vietnam to apply for a re-grant of personal papers. Police said they have contacted several witnesses for further information related to the case and are hunting for the culprit.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!