Man arrested for snatching handbag from New Zealand tourist in Vietnam’s Hoi An

Le Dai Rin, a 23-year-old resident of Duy Xuyen District, was taken into custody last Thursday for investigation on charges of property theft.

According to a police report, the incident occurred around 8:00 am on May 19, after Rin had spent time riding around the streets of Hoi An looking for potential victims.

The victim, identified as S.D.D., a 59-year-old tourist from New Zealand, was cycling along Lac Long Quan Street when Rin approached from behind on a motorbike and snatched her handbag from the bicycle’s front basket.

The bag contained a mobile phone, VND3 million (US$116) in cash, personal identification documents, and other personal items.

Following the theft, Rin sped away from the scene. 

The victim promptly reported the incident to local police who launched an investigation and coordinated efforts to locate the suspect.

At around 5:00 pm on May 22, criminal police officers spotted a man matching Rin’s appearance and riding a motorcycle similar to the one involved in the theft, as reported earlier by the victim.

They stopped him for verification and questioning, during which Rin confessed to the crime.

Police later searched his residence and recovered the stolen handbag along with the victim’s belongings.

Initial investigations revealed that Rin has a prior conviction for snatching.