Police in Ho Chi Minh City said they will use all available means to halt the recent increase in street crime.
>> Street robberies rise dramatically in HCMC>> Woman’s arm chopped off by thieves>> HCMC aims to protect tourists from robberies Over the past four days, HCMC police have uncovered 45 criminal cases, including 40 robberies and thefts, and seized 50 criminals, said Lieutenant Colonel Vu Nhu Ha, deputy chief of the Secretariat of the city Police Department.
In a striking case, four thieves were arrested last Saturday after they chopped off the right arm of Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, a 28-year-old resident of Thanh My Loi, District 2, in an attempt to steal her SH scooter. Ha said the city police department has ordered its district units to strengthen their control, inspections and patrols to detect crimes and seize criminals or suspects. “Where there is loose management and control there is an increase in crimes or security problems,” Ha warned. Commenting on the recent increase in the number of street robberies and thefts, Ha said, “Gangsters have targeted objects carried by people such as mobile phones, laptops or jewelry items, since they are easier to snatch.” Downtown areas and places frequented by tourists, including foreigners, are where robberies or thefts usually occur. Therefore, many specific measures will be taken to protect such areas, Ha said. Accordingly, anti-criminal police will strengthen patrols and traps, police in wards will tighten control in residential quarters, and administrative management police will strengthen inspections at hotels, rented houses and recreational facilities. Meanwhile, 113 police (the police to call in case of emergency), mobile police, and traffic police will strengthen control on the streets in order to detect and follow any suspects. Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Nhat Thanh, head of the Criminal Police Team in District 1, advised people to enhance their awareness of self-protection. It is not advised for people to drive while speaking on a phone or exposing luxurious or expensive items. People should also enhance awareness of helping others who are attacked by robbers or thieves, Thanh said. Police should pay more attention to places that often consume assets acquired by criminals, such as shops that trade in secondhand electronic products and pawnshops to detect signs of criminal activity, Thanh advised.