Bravery on display in Vietnam: Female jewelry store owner thwarts robbery with daring pursuit
Sunday, March 16, 2025, 13:04 GMT+7
A jewelry store owner in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam single-handedly foiled a robbery attempt at her establishment with extraordinary courage and quick thinking, leading to the suspect's arrest by local residents, local police said this weekend.
The provincial police department announced on Saturday the arrest and indictment of Bui Chi Binh, 28, a temporary resident, on suspicion of robbery following his failed attempt to rob a local jewelry store.
On Friday evening, Binh entered the Mai Kim jewelry store in the province’s Xuyen Moc District under the pretense of purchasing a gold ring and a gold bracelet, together worth nearly VND50 million (US$1,960).
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| This image, extracted from surveillance footage, shows Bui Chi Binh trying on a gold bracelet at the Mai Kim gold shop in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam before his failed robbery attempt there, March 14, 2025. |
After trying on the jewelry, Binh pretended to initiate a bank transfer on his phone but suddenly bolted toward the exit, still wearing the jewelry on his finger and wrist.
Reacting instinctively, the store owner, Tran Thi T.M., 43, leaped over the glass counter and gave chase.
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| Captured from surveillance footage, this image shows Tran Thi T.M., the owner of the Mai Kim gold shop in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, leaping over the glass counter to chase the robber Bui Chi Binh, March 14, 2025. |
As Binh mounted his motorcycle, M. reached him, positioning herself at the front of the vehicle while shouting for help.
Despite Binh starting the engine and accelerating to flee, M. clung to the motorcycle's front, reaching for the ignition switch to turn off the vehicle after it had traveled a short distance, according to Vietnamnet.
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| This surveillance camera image captures Bui Chi Binh attempting to flee on his motorcycle from the Mai Kim gold shop in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, with the shop owner trying to block his path at the front of the vehicle, March 14, 2025. |
Her actions caused the motorcycle to stall, forcing Binh to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot.
Local residents, alerted by M.'s cries, quickly pursued and apprehended the suspect.
During the arrest, some residents used their phones to live-stream the event on social media.
Initial police investigations revealed that the motorcycle Binh used during the robbery had counterfeit license plates.
Binh had a prior conviction for robbery and had been released from prison in 2023, according to investigators.
Reflecting on the incident, M. expressed surprise at her swift reaction, attributing it to instinct and her martial arts training.
She had sensed something amiss due to Binh's unusual behavior prior to the robbery attempt, including his frequent darting glances around the store.
The Mai Kim jewelry store, operated by M. and her family for a decade, had never before experienced such an incident, M. said.
VnExpress reported that M.'s husband revealed the suspect had previously visited to inquire about purchasing gold but left because the store was crowded at that time.
“Around 5:00 pm, when I went out on an errand, leaving my wife alone in the store, the suspect returned to carry out the robbery,” he stated.
Local police noted that this incident highlights the importance of vigilance and community support in ensuring safety and security.
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