Subject specializing in breaking car windows to steal property in Vinh City falls into the net

On the morning of March 11, the Vinh City Police Department organized an investigation into a property theft case committed by Vuong Van Long (born in 1990), residing in Mau Lam hamlet, Hung Loc commune, (Vinh City).

According to the police, from February 2020 until his arrest, Long committed 5 thefts by smashing car windows. Long targeted wealthy families who often left their cars on the street.

Subject Vuong Van Long. Photo: PB

Previously, Vinh City Police received many reports from victims that their cars parked on the street had their windows smashed and all the property inside was stolen. Determining the complexity of the case, in February 2020, Vinh City Police established Project 220T to combat and eradicate it.

After more than a month of surveillance, on March 4, Vinh City Police arrested Vuong Van Long at a hotel in the area. At the police station, Long confessed to having committed 5 thefts in the above manner. The stolen property included 9.8 million VND; 1,500 USD; 1,583,000 Lao Kip.

Long chose 2-3am to use bricks and hammers to break the car windows to steal property. Photo: PB

The target audience is usually well-off families who leave their cars on the street. Photo: PB

“Long usually chooses the time frame of 2-3am, when it is raining heavily, to act. He uses bricks and hammers to smash the car windows, then rummages through the car and takes all the belongings that the victim left in the car,” said an investigator.

Long is a long-term drug addict. In 2016, Long was sentenced to 5 years in prison for breaking into car windows 18 times to steal property. In May 2019, Long was released from prison but refused to reform, continuing to steal property to get money to spend and buy drugs.