Just released from prison, he went to the district police station... to steal a phone.

Seeing Ms. T. leave her phone on a chair in the reception room at the police station, Thien quickly stole it and was caught on camera.

Tran Van Thien at the police station - Photo: SON BINH

On the morning of November 8th, the Phu Nhuan District Police in Ho Chi Minh City announced that they are temporarily detaining Tran Van Thien (47 years old, residing in Phu Nhuan District) for investigation into the crime of theft.

According to initial information, at 8:00 AM on November 6th, Ms. LHPT (20 years old, residing in Phu Nhuan District) went to the Administrative Police Team for Social Order Management of Phu Nhuan District Police to apply for a citizen identity card.

While waiting to complete the procedures, Ms. T. left a mobile phone (worth over 2 million VND) on a chair in the reception room of the Administrative Police Team for Social Order of Phu Nhuan District Police.

About 5 minutes later, Ms. T. discovered that someone had taken her phone, so she reported it to the police.

The police are working with Tran Van Thien - Photo: SON BINH

The police quickly extracted security camera footage and discovered that Tran Van Thien exhibited suspicious behavior, so they invited Thien to the police station for questioning.

At the police station, Thien confessed to stealing Ms. T.'s phone. In his statement to the police, Thien said that he went to the Phu Nhuan District Police Station to do some paperwork, and while waiting, he saw Ms. T.'s phone on a chair and decided to steal it.

The ward police compiled a file and handed Thien and the related evidence over to the Criminal Investigation Team of Phu Nhuan District Police for further processing according to their jurisdiction.

Through investigation and the collection and consolidation of evidence, the Phu Nhuan District Police Investigation Agency issued an urgent arrest warrant for Thien for the crime of theft.

According to the Phu Nhuan District Police, Thien has a prior conviction for theft and had recently been released from prison.

According to Tuoi Tre newspaper