Police in Ho Chi Minh City announced on Friday afternoon that they had arrested three suspects, including one woman and two men, in an armed bank robbery that took place at a Sacombank transaction office in the outlying district of Hoc Mon.

These three suspects were identified as Nguyen Ngoc My, 30, from southern Binh Duong Province; Lam Phuc Loi, 23, a native of southern Vinh Long; and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, 22, residing in southern Ben Tre Province.

Stacks of banknotes that police recovered in the armed bank robbery. Photo: Supplied

They were caught 22 hours after the robbery happened, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung, head of the criminal police division, under the municipal Department of Public Security, told a press briefing held on Friday afternoon over the issue.

The suspects confessed that they bought guns on social media to jointly commit the robbery after becoming friends on Facebook.

They robbed nearly VND4 billion (US$164,440) from the bank, with VND3.6 billion ($147,926) recovered by the police.

Earlier, on Tuesday morning, two of the three suspects stopped their motorcycle in front of the Sacombank transaction office. 

Then, the pillion rider held a look-alike gun, stormed into the building and threatened people there, according to a police report.

A few minutes later, the pillion rider rushed outside and the duo immediately fled the scene.

The bank security guards chased the robbers and shouted for help concurrently.

This transaction office then announced a temporary closure following the robbery.

Police came to the scene of the robbery after that and launched an investigation to hunt for the robbers.

A police officer is seen at the scene of the armed robbery in Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

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