2 arrested for using electric gun to steal 4 dogs in Ho Chi Minh City

Police officers on Saturday issued emergency detention orders for Tran Minh Trung, 25, a resident of Xuan Thoi Son Commune, and Nguyen Thanh Vinh, 23, from neighboring Dong Nai Province, on charges of theft of property.

In connection with the case, Tran Thi Van, 41, residing in Trung My Tay Ward, was also detained for allegedly consuming property acquired through the commission of a crime.

Through investigation, police determined that Trung and Vinh had planned and prepared tools to carry out dog thefts.

In the wee hours of Thursday, the pair used a homemade electric gun and a battery pack to carry out four consecutive dog thefts in Lai Thieu and Thuan An Wards, stealing a total of four dogs.

After committing the thefts, they sought to sell the dogs to Tran Thi Van.

Van agreed to buy the dogs at VND40,000 (US$1.5) per kilogram. 

While the group was weighing the dogs to calculate the payment, they were caught red-handed by Ho Chi Minh City police officers.

Seized evidence included four stolen dogs (already deceased) with a total weight of nearly 70 kilograms, six other dogs previously purchased by Van from unknown sources, one homemade electric gun set, a battery pack, a can of pepper spray, a roll of tape, a backpack, sacks, and a motorbike used in the thefts.

According to an official valuation, the total value of the four stolen dogs amounts to tens of millions of Vietnam dong. (VND10 million = $379)

The Ho Chi Minh City Police have urged the public to remain vigilant, protect their property and pets, and promptly report any suspicious individuals to local authorities for timely intervention.