Widespread cases of theft and robbery have taken place in residential areas of the Ho Chi Minh City National University, with most of the victims being boarding students.

A number of students reported that they have been robbed in broad daylight while walking on desert, bush-lined streets.

The areas are located on the border of Thu Duc District of Ho Chi Minh City and Thuan An Town of Binh Duong Province.

Robbers and bag snatchers often choose deserted streets because they know that students often put their laptops, expensive learning tools, mobile phones, and money in their bags, said a student.

Sometimes, snatchers pretend to ask for directions and suddenly seize bags or other belongings that students are holding in their hands.

Huynh Thi Thuy Duyen said she had her bag snatched at noon on January 15 while riding her bicycle to school.

“They snatched it so quickly that I couldn’t cry,” she recalled.

Another student, Le Thi Ngoc Anh, said she had bags stolen when she placed them under her feet to unlock her room door.

Nguyen Thi H., a beverage seller in the area, added that thieves and robbers acted quickly and ran away.

Tran Viet Thang, vice director of the center for management and development of the resident areas of the university, admitted theft and robbery have ravaged the area.

He said measures have been carried out to prevent the problem.

Authorities of Thuan An Town said they set up guard posts and are able to block all entrances to the university area but this has failed to stop the crimes.