Police in the city’s Binh Tan District say they are investigating Nguyen Minh Ho, 38, for theft after he was caught on Sunday attempting to steal an ambulance from a local hospital.

Ho, who has been living on the streets of the city, came to Trieu An Hospital in Binh Tan District at around 5:15 am on Sunday asking for food.

After filling his stomach, Ho saw an ambulance parked inside the hospital’s parking lot with its keys still left in the ignition.

The ambulance was valued at around VND320 million (US$14,000), according to police officers.

On the spur of the moment, he jumped on the vehicle and drove away with the intention of selling it for some quick cash to pay off his betting debts.

His plan fell through when employees at a toll station on the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong Expressway, located over 11 kilometers from the hospital, found him suspicious and refused to let him through while notifying law enforcement.

Ho confessed to the crime at the police station.

Vietnamese citizens are still not allowed to wager on matches during the ongoing 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, even though sportsbooks have been legalized and relevant legal guidelines are already in place, as there are no licensed football betting businesses in the country.

The legalization followed a government-backed pilot program that became effective on March 31, 2017, permitting Vietnamese citizens over the age of 21 to place wagers on FIFA-recognized international football matches, horse and greyhound races.

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