Police officers in Ho Chi Minh City have captured a suspect accused of attempting to snatch a smartphone from a foreign visitor in the downtown area.

Police in District 1 confirmed on Wednesday they had arrested Dang Minh Thuan, 26, for the crime.

A team of officers under the district-level police unit was on duty in the afternoon when they spotted Thuan riding his motorbike suspiciously and decided to follow him.

Thuan, who was not aware he was being tailed, approached a foreign tourist who was walking along Cong Quynh Street and snatched his smartphone.

The victim resisted and managed to hold onto the phone and call for help.

Thuan fled on his motorbike, but he was chased down by the officers.

He was eventually nabbed at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao with De Tham Streets.

At the police station, Thuan claimed he committed the crime because he was in need of money.

Records showed that the suspect is a drug addict and has been previously convicted of robbery twice.

Officers are finalizing their investigation to determine a suitable punishment for Thuan.

The victim was also invited to the police station to give a statement.

In mid-December 2018, police in District 1 captured two men who disguised themselves as women to steal from a foreigner.

The two rode a motorbike and approached a Canadian man, tricking him into getting on the bike with them.

They took him to a secluded alley, grabbed his phone, and left him behind.

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