Ex-cop jailed for burglary

In a recent case in northern Vietnam, a man named Nguyen Viet Khanh, aged 26, found himself sentenced to nine years behind bars for orchestrating two burglaries, pilfering a total of 42 mobile phones, all while holding a position as a police officer. The trial took place in Hai Duong Province, where Khanh's actions came under legal scrutiny.

Before the incident, Khanh was employed at a detention center within the Police Department in Quang Ninh Province, located adjacent to Hai Duong. However, faced with financial strains in June, he contemplated resorting to burglary to alleviate his monetary woes.

Setting his plan in motion, on June 14, Khanh embarked on a trip from Quang Ninh to Hai Duong, equipped with a set of tools including a hammer, chisel, and crowbar. His first target was a fashion store in Kinh Mon Town, which he brazenly broke into using these tools. In this heist, Khanh managed to seize a smartphone, some cash, and various articles of clothing, valuing more than VND3 million (approximately US$123).

Undeterred, the following day, under the cover of darkness at 2 a.m., Khanh proceeded to burglarize an FPT Shop located in the same town. This time, his haul was substantial, amounting to 41 smartphones, with an estimated worth exceeding VND935 million.

However, Khanh's streak of criminal success was short-lived. During the FPT Shop theft, the store's vigilant security team captured his movements on camera and swiftly detained him before he could abscond with the stolen goods.

Prior to the trial proceedings, Khanh tendered his resignation from the police force. Additionally, his family took responsibility for compensating the FPT Shop with an amount of VND15 million and provided VND2 million to the fashion store.

This case not only highlights Khanh's criminal actions but also underscores the consequences he faces for betraying the trust associated with his former role in law enforcement.