Case 123G - Rapidly dismantled a car mirror theft ring.

(Baonghean) - During the peak period of attacking and suppressing crime and protecting security and order before, during, and after the 2014 Lunar New Year, the Nghe An Provincial Police achieved many successes; among them, Case 123G of the Vinh City Police was considered a prime example.

In September 2013, the Vinh City Police received reports of stolen car mirrors from owners of luxury vehicles. Ms. Le Thi QT (born 1992), residing in Hamlet 3, Nghi Phu Commune; Mr. Tran TK, a teacher residing in Hamlet 20, Nghi Phu Commune; and Mr. Vo D.D... were among those who filed reports. According to the reports, the mirrors were stolen during lunchtime or at dusk. The thefts were carried out very quickly, within just a few minutes. Some victims even reported that the mirrors were likely stolen after the victims only stopped at an ATM to withdraw money. Some victims also stated that the thieves were likely two young men riding a Wave Alpha motorbike, one of whom was tall and thin...

Luxury cars like Range Rover, Mercedes, Lexus, Porsche, etc., are always targets for thieves. (Illustrative image.)

Recognizing this as a new type of crime, likely perpetrated by individuals from outside the area requiring swift action, the Vinh City Police established Special Case 123G, directly led by Colonel Ho Xuan Hoa, Chief of Vinh City Police. Officers assigned to the task secretly fanned out across the area, searching guesthouses and hotels, and secretly monitoring locations prone to theft, even installing surveillance cameras. After nearly a month of persistent surveillance in key areas, the officers identified a group of five suspicious individuals staying near the twin gas stations in Quan Bau ward.

Continuing their surveillance, on November 30, 2013, the investigators received information that the group of suspects had moved to a boarding house in Hamlet 10, Nghi Phu Commune. Recognizing this as a good opportunity to approach the suspects, the special task force quickly devised a detailed plan. Within a short time, they approached and questioned the suspects, identifying them as: Ho Tien Bao (born 1992), residing in Tan Phu Hamlet, Hoa Hieu Ward, Thai Hoa Town; Nguyen Van Hung (born 1992), residing in Tan Long Hamlet, Long Son Ward, Thai Hoa Town; Hoang Ngoc Nam (born 1992), residing in Dong Tien Hamlet, Hoa Hieu Ward, Thai Hoa Town; Chu Ngoc Hung (born 1992), residing in Tan Long Hamlet, Long Son Ward, Thai Hoa Town; and Bui Duc Thang (born 1992), residing in Hamlet 6, Hoi Son Commune, Anh Son District. In this case, Ho Tien Bao was the ringleader, and Nguyen Van Hung was the tall, thin man that the public had previously reported.

At approximately 6 PM on December 2nd, 2013, the special task force tracked Ho Tien Bao and Nguyen Van Hung, discovering them stealing car mirrors. Their method of stealing the mirrors was very simple: with one hand, they pressed the mirror down to expose the mirror housing, then removed the entire mirror and housing. Because Bao and Hung acted so quickly, the officers decided not to catch them red-handed but to arrest them while they had the evidence on them and at the place where they had hidden the stolen goods. When they returned to their rented room, the officers quickly raided it. In addition to Ho Tien Bao and Nguyen Van Hung, they also apprehended two other suspects, Hoang Ngoc Nam and Bui Duc Thang, who had just returned from their theft. The recovered evidence included 9 car mirrors of various types, valued at approximately 130 million VND. Upon arrest, the suspects, realizing their actions had been exposed, offered no resistance and quickly confessed to their crimes.

Through interrogation, the suspects confessed to stealing mirrors from expensive cars, only resorting to stealing mirrors from Camrys, CRVs, etc., as a last resort. After each theft, they hid the stolen mirrors in their rented room, accumulating about 20-30 pieces before transporting them to Hanoi for sale. Ho Tien Bao confessed to being the ringleader of the theft group; the people Bao contacted to sell the stolen goods were Tuong Cong Tin (born in 1983), residing in Vo Thai village, Dung Nghia commune, Vu Thu district, Thai Binh province, and Nguyen Tien Dung (born in 1966), registered address 14H4, Nguyen Cong Tru apartment complex, Pho Hue ward, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi. When Bao had gathered enough goods to transport to Hanoi, he would call Tin. Tin would give Bao a meeting point to pick up the goods, where Tin would take them to Dung, collect the money, and return it to Bao. Each time, Bao paid Tin between 500,000 and 1,000,000 VND.

Immediately after receiving the information, the Vinh City Police issued an urgent arrest warrant for Tuong Cong Tin, Nguyen Tien Dung, and Chu Ngoc Hung, the remaining thief in Ho Tien Bao's group. Following the arrests, Vinh City Police officers, in coordination with Hanoi City Police and Pho Hue Ward Police (Hanoi), conducted searches of Nguyen Tien Dung's residence and business premises. At these locations, they recovered 144 car mirrors and mirror assemblies of various luxury car models, with a total value exceeding 1 billion VND.

Investigator Major Nguyen Dinh Dung of the Vinh City Police Department added that Ho Tien Bao's brother in Hanoi had previously associated with Tuong Cong Tin, a professional car mirror thief. When Bao visited the capital, he met Tin and received training in the trade, with Tin promising to act as an intermediary in selling the stolen goods. Around mid-2013, Bao went to Vinh City to visit his friend Chu Ngoc Hung, who was working at an auto repair shop. There, he met and befriended Bui Duc Thang, who was working at a coffee shop. Bao "taught them the trade" and recruited Nguyen Van Hung and Hoang Ngoc Nam to join the group. From September 2013, their group became a nightmare for owners of luxury cars. Their "business" was meticulously planned, from stealing the goods to selling them. Just when they thought everything was going smoothly, they unknowingly fell under the scrutiny of Vinh City police officers and were trapped...

Speaking about Case 123G, Lieutenant Colonel Le Khac Thuyet - Chief of the Provincial Police Office, said: The Provincial Police leadership highly appreciates the achievements of the officers and soldiers of Vinh City Police. This achievement has contributed to ensuring social security and order and increased the trust and affection of the people. After solving the case, the theft of car mirrors has significantly decreased...

Nhat Lan