Neighbors commit theft again one month after being released from prison.

(Baonghean.vn) - Two former inmates, having just completed a one-month prison sentence for theft, have reverted to their old ways, committing a series of thefts at churches.

The Investigation Police Department of Nghi Loc District is finalizing the case file to prosecute Nguyen Van Dong (born in 1988) and Nguyen Duc Manh (born in 1980), both residing in Hamlet 3, Nam Loc Commune, Nam Dan District.

Earlier, on the night of September 7th, at Lang Anh parish church in Nghi Phong commune, Nghi Loc district, thieves broke in and stole an organ and a mixer (sound mixing console), with a total value of approximately 80 million VND. Immediately afterwards, the parish pastoral council reported the incident to the Nghi Loc District Police.

The suspects Nguyen Duc Manh (in black shirt) and Nguyen Van Dong. Photo: Tuan Minh

Upon receiving the report, the Nghi Loc District Police deployed forces to the scene, collected evidence and documents, and established Special Case 917T to investigate and clarify the matter.

Using coordinated investigative techniques, the task force obtained information that in Nam Dan district, there was a suspect named Nguyen Van Dong who had just completed a one-month prison sentence. He had previously been sentenced to 36 months in prison for theft at a church in Son Kim commune, Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province. After his release, Dong refused to work and had a close relationship with his neighbor, Nguyen Duc Manh. Manh had also recently completed a prison sentence for theft.

Focusing their investigation on the two suspects, Dong and Manh, the special task force noticed several suspicious behaviors regarding their whereabouts and finances. Dong, recently released from prison, constantly changed phones and spent his days drinking, shopping, and partying. Through several sources, the task force determined that on the night of September 7th, Dong was present in Nghi Phong commune, and then traveled to Ha Tinh City. This helped the task force confirm that Dong was the primary suspect in the theft of property from the Lang Anh parish church in Nghi Phong commune, Nghi Loc district, on the night of September 7th.

The investigation team dispatched a task force to Ha Tinh City to investigate buying and selling points and pawn shops. They identified that Ms. Thai Thi Thanh H., residing on Le Duy Diem Street, Dai Nai Ward, Ha Tinh City, had purchased a mixer from an individual for 5,000,000 VND.

Evidence seized in the case. Photo: Tuan Minh

Previously, this individual had also sold Ms. H. an organ for 16 million VND. Ms. H.'s family runs a business repairing and selling musical instruments. After identifying the suspect, Ms. H. confirmed that the person who sold her the organ was indeed Nguyen Van Dong.

After gathering sufficient evidence, the special investigation team issued an urgent arrest warrant for Nguyen Van Dong. At 3 PM on September 9th, detectives located Dong wandering in Vinh City and proceeded to arrest him.

During questioning, Dong confessed that he had an accomplice, Nguyen Duc Manh, who was his neighbor. The special investigation team proceeded to issue an urgent arrest warrant for Nguyen Duc Manh for the crime of theft.

During questioning at the police station, Dong confessed to being the perpetrator of the theft at Lang Anh parish, Nghi Phong, Nghi Loc. Furthermore, after being released from prison, he and Manh committed three other thefts at Catholic churches.

The first incident occurred in early August. Shortly after being released from prison due to laziness, Nguyen Van Dong took a bus from his home to the Cua Lo port area with the intention of stealing property from Tan Loc parish church in Nghi Tan ward, Cua Lo town. At 11 PM, Dong climbed onto the roof using lightning rods, removed tiles, and broke into the church, stealing an organ before leaving. He then took a taxi to Huu Dat pawn shop in Hung Loc commune, Vinh City, and pawned the organ for 5,000,000 VND.

The motorbike that Dong and Manh used to commit the thefts. Photo: Tuan Minh

A few days later, Nguyen Van Dong, on his way from Vinh, met Nguyen Duc Manh. Dong and Manh decided to steal property from Catholic churches. Using the same method, Manh stood guard while Dong broke into the Yen Phap parish church in Hamlet 6, Hung Thinh Commune, Hung Nguyen District, and stole an organ. Afterward, the two took it to Ha Tinh City to sell to Ms. H. for 16 million VND.

On the night of September 6th, Dong committed another theft at the Yen Hoa chapel, Gia Hoa parish, Xuan An town, Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province. On September 7th, he committed another theft at Lang Anh parish.

On September 9th, while he and his accomplices were planning another heist, they were arrested. The total value of the stolen property amounted to 200 million VND.

The case is currently under further investigation.

Tuan Minh