Eliminate a gang specializing in stealing safes at spiritual sites

Nghi Loc District Police initially arrested 6 suspects who committed more than 25 thefts at temples, pagodas, and churches in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

The place of "action" is thetemples, pagodas, churches

From the beginning of September 2022 to present, there have been cases of safe theft at temples, pagodas, and churches in Nghi Loc district and neighboring areas.

What happenedtheft of propertyat temples, pagodas, and churches, causing outrage among the people, requiring the authorities to urgently find the culprit. Clearly identifying the nature of the incident, Nghi Loc District Police reported to the leaders and heads of the Provincial Police Investigation Agency to ask for direction to establish a special investigation project.

Evidence seized in the case. Photo: Hong Ngoc

From the traces at the scene and evidence collected during the investigation and verification, it shows that the thefts were all committed by a group of organized, professional and reckless individuals.

However, because the time the subjects commit crimes is mainly at night, the temples, pagodas, and churches that the group chooses to commit crimes are rarely guarded, so there are no witnesses. The thefts often occur for a long time before the victims report to the police, so the process of fighting the case, the police agency encounters many difficulties.

With the determination to fight crime to the end, the process of reviewing and collecting documents and evidence, on November 20, 2022, Nghi Loc District Police coordinated with Nghi Huong Ward Police, Cua Lo Town and Nam Giang Commune Police, Nam Dan District to successfully break the case, initially arresting 6 subjects for property theft.

The 6 subjects arrested by the police all reside in Nghi Loc district, including: Le Thanh Tu (born 2000), Nguyen Tien Kien (born 2000), Nguyen Xuan Dat (born 2004), Le Duc Quang (born 2001), Ng.TT (born 2006), all residing in Nghi Trung commune and NHV (born 2007), residing in Hoa Tay hamlet, Nghi Hoa commune. These are subjects with bad personal records, many criminal records for property theft and drug use. All are under the management of Nghi Loc district police.

25 thefts in 2 months

The suspects and the evidence were arrested at the police station. Photo: Hong Ngoc

Working with the police, the subjects confessed that in order to have money to spend, since the beginning of August 2022, the group of subjects used motorbikes in pairs to monitor the situation of temples, pagodas, and churches in the area inside and outside the district during the day. After identifying their "prey", at night, the subjects used tools including pliers, safe-breaking tools (hammers, pry bars, sharp knives, etc.) to break in, cut the door lock, break the safe, or steal the safe and take it to a deserted area to break the safe and take money and personal belongings.

Initially, the police agency proved that the subjects had committed more than 25 thefts at temples and pagodas in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces with a total loss of more than 300 million VND.

Seized evidence: 10 safes, 8 mobile phones, 3 motorbikes, 2 iron cutters, 2 pry bars, 2 hammers, 1 sharp knife, more than 30 million VND in cash and related evidence and documents.

This is a project to steal property at spiritual places. The subjects carried out the acts very professionally and sophisticatedly, frequently changing the locations of the acts. Therefore, the successful breaking of the project and arrest of the subjects by Nghi Loc District Police has contributed to ensuring security and order in the area, which has been recognized and highly appreciated by the government, religious dignitaries and the masses, helping people to enjoy Tet and welcome Spring safely and peacefully.