Ho Chi Minh City authorities will take measures to combat street robberies, which have recently become more violent.

>> HCMC to mobilize forces to crack down on crime >> Street robberies rise dramatically in HCMC>> Woman’s arm chopped off by thieves>> HCMC aims to protect tourists from robberies Le Minh Tri, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the model of drug detoxification should be reviewed and improved, since more than 50 percent of crimes are related to drug abusers. Along with detoxification, social centers should give vocational training and lifestyle education to former drug addicts to help them stabilize their lives and avoid relapsing into addiction or crime. Nguyen Thanh Tai, a senior expert of the city and a former deputy chairman of the city People's Committee, also said a review and re-assessment of the efficiency of drug detoxification programs in every part of the city is essential to preventing drug-related crimes. Lieutenant Colonel Vu Nhu Ha, deputy chief of the Secretariat of HCMC Police, said many criminals often abuse drugs, especially synthetic drug tablets, before they commit crimes. Therefore, more action should be taken to detect and punish individuals or gangs that illegally transport, store or sell drugs, Ha said. Strengthening management of residential areas is also important in detecting and preventing criminals, said Lieutenant Colonel Le Duc Thuan, head of District 1's Ben Nghe Ward Police. Information on fighting and preventing crime should be provided to every household, business, and agency in every locality, so that everybody can actively contribute to fighting crime, Thuan said. Judge Vuong Van Nghia, of the criminal court under the HCMC People’s Court, said re-education of prisoners should be improved to help prevent ex-prisoners from relapsing into crime, including robberies, after they are released. Meanwhile, lawyer Trinh Thanh, from the Nguoi Ngheo (Poor People) Law Office, said only strict sentences are not enough to combat the robbery spree, but other solutions, such as creating more jobs, reducing unemployment, and fighting drug sellers and users must be also pursued by authorities. As previously reported, street robberies have increased dramatically in Ho Chi Minh City, with many striking cases occurring in the past several days, worrying locals and prompting police to launch a campaign to crack down.The latest such case occurred on November 26, when 28-year-old Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, a resident of Thanh My Loi Commune, District 2, was driving across the Phu My Bridge.

Two men on a motorbike pulled up next to her and one of them suddenly slashed her right elbow with a large knife. Thuy shouted, “Robbery! Robbery!” as the thief hacked at her twice more, almost chopping off the lower part of the arm. The four thieves who carried out the crime were arrested later.