Ho Chi Minh City crime falls nearly 60% during Lunar New Year holiday: police

Crimes affecting social order declined by 56 cases, or 58.5 percent, during the holiday from February 14 to February 22 compared with the preceding period, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security. 

The crime clearance rate reached 94.64 percent.

Police recorded one robbery case during the period, in Phu Giao Commune, and six cases of snatch theft. 

Authorities said all seven cases were solved.

In the robbery case, eight suspects were arrested within hours and stolen property was returned to the victim, police said.

One snatch theft occurred in the early hours of February 21 at the intersection of Luong Dinh Cua and Tran Nao Streets. 

Police in An Khanh Ward, working with the city's criminal police division, arrested three teenage suspects a few hours after receiving the victim's report.

Police said the suspects used motorbikes, covered their identities, and changed clothes after the incident in an effort to avoid detection.

Lieutenant Colonel Dinh Duc Thang, deputy head of the criminal police sivision, said the force had implemented directives from city police leadership on holiday duty deployment and crime prevention.

Authorities increased monitoring of individuals with prior convictions and conducted inspections of lodging facilities and businesses subject to security requirements, he said.

Inter-agency patrol teams were deployed at key locations including bus stations, industrial parks, ATM sites, entertainment venues, and festival areas.

On Lunar New Year's Eve, the entire police force was placed on full alert, with officers assigned to fireworks sites and crowded public areas.

Thang said most cases recorded during the holiday were spontaneous incidents and not linked to organized or professional criminal groups.

He added information provided by residents also helped officers respond quickly and prevent incidents from escalating.