Man sentenced to 14 years for stealing 66 iPhones in Vietnam

On Monday, the People's Court in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam condemned Nguyen Quoc Tuan, 35, residing in Long Tuyen Ward, Can Tho City to 14 years in prison for theft. 

The defendant broke into a mobile phone store in the early morning hours and stole 66 iPhones last year.

According to the indictment, between January 19 and 22, 2024, Tuan used another person's citizen identification card to rent a room at a hotel An Giang Province.

At approximately 2:30 am on January 22, 2024, finding the Apple Store 47H unattended, Tuan donned gloves and a face mask, brought pliers, and climbed from the hotel into the store.

He cut through the metal roofing to gain entry, stealing 66 iPhones of various models, one microphone, and one used wireless headset, with a total value exceeding VND635 million ($24,156).

After committing the theft, Tuan sold off 33 of the phones, one microphone, and one headset. 

He took the remaining phones back to his residence to hide them.

On January 24, 2024, police in An Giang and Can Tho coordinated an emergency search of Tuan's residence. 

Police officers seized 33 mobile phones along with numerous related items and documents.

On June 23, 2025, Tuan was formally charged and placed under investigation.

In addition to the 14-year prison sentence, the trial panel ordered Tuan to compensate the victim for the value of the 33 unrecovered smartphones.

Tuan has three prior convictions for theft and one prior conviction for robbery.