Three women in their 70s stole electrical cables to sell as scrap, causing damage exceeding 1.5 billion VND.

Previously, in September 2024, at several construction sites along the extended Nguyen Sy Sach road in Hung Hoa commune and the 72m road in Nghi Duc commune (Vinh city), and Nghi Thach commune (Nghi Loc district), there were repeated incidents of theft of electrical cables. Some cabinets and plastic pipes used to protect the wires were also pried open, broken, and crushed, causing estimated damage of over 1.5 billion VND.

In response to the situation, the Provincial Police leadership directed the Vinh City Police to establish a special investigation case, assigning the Criminal Investigation Team to lead the investigation in coordination with the General Investigation Team and other relevant units.

Implementing coordinated operational measures, on October 1, 2024, the Vinh City Police, in coordination with the Nghi Loc District Police, successfully cracked a case, arresting four suspects: Nguyen Thi Lieu (born in 1979), residing in Block 10, Cua Nam Ward, Vinh City; Nguyen Thi An (born in 1971) and Nguyen Thi Xuan (born in 1976), both residing in Nghi Xuan Commune, Nghi Loc District, for the crime of theft; and Nguyen Van Cay (born in 1980), residing in Nghi Phong Commune, Nghi Loc District, for the crime of receiving stolen property. The seized evidence included two wire cutters and several lengths of copper wire that the suspects had cut short for easier transportation and sale, along with other related items.

Initially, the Vinh City Police Investigation Agency clarified that: Due to a lack of money for personal expenses, from September 11th to September 26th, 2024, using sophisticated and professional methods and taking advantage of security guard negligence, Nguyen Thi Lieu, Nguyen Thi An, and Nguyen Thi Xuan colluded to commit three thefts of electrical cables late at night and early in the morning.

Specifically: At 1:30 AM on September 11, 2024, three individuals stole 1,200 meters of underground electrical cable, valued at over 384 million VND, on the 72m road in Nghi Thach commune, Nghi Loc district; At 2:00 AM on September 23, 2024, they stole over 3,000 meters of underground electrical cable and twisted bare copper grounding wire, valued at 650 million VND, on the extended section of Nguyen Sy Sach road in Hung Hoa commune (Vinh city). Subsequently, at 2:15 AM on September 26, 2024, while passing through the construction site of the 72m road in Nghi Duc commune (Vinh city), the three suspects noticed unfinished electrical cable ends exposed at the base of streetlights and proceeded to steal 2,700 meters of underground electrical cable and 32 twisted sections of bare copper grounding wire, valued at 480 million VND.

After committing the crime, the three suspects sold the stolen underground electrical cables and twisted bare copper grounding wires to Nguyen Van Cay, the owner of a scrap metal shop in Nghi Phong commune, to get money for their expenses. Although Nguyen Van Cay knew that these electrical cables and twisted bare copper grounding wires were stolen by the suspects to sell, he still bought them and paid Lieu, An, and Xuan.

The Investigation Police Department of Vinh City Police has issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings, indict and detain Nguyen Thi Lieu, Nguyen Thi An, and Nguyen Thi Xuan for the crime of theft of property, and Nguyen Van Cay for the crime of receiving stolen property; at the same time, they are continuing to expand the investigation into the case.