Beware of car accessory theft while parking in Ho Chi Minh City

These thieves often removed logos, wipers or wheel covers from cars parked without attention by drivers on many streets in District 1, as well as in other districts.

On the morning of June 4, in an area on Le Lai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Tuoi Tre saw a young man looking into the parking lot alongside 23/9 Park, where he often removes logos or wipers from cars.

This was Cuong, 25, who has emerged in the area as one of the leading thieves of such car accessories.

After a while, Cuong walked toward the park and then entered the area where many cars were parked.

About 30 minutes later he left, hiding two logos that he had removed from two cars.

Earlier, on May 27, Cuong used a screwdriver to remove a wiper from a Vinasun taxicab, also on Le Lai Street.

At noon that day, Cuong was removing the logo of a Fortuner car when he was detected.

The man then went to the spot where he was hiding his stolen items, took them all and ran to the intersection of Le Lai and Ton That Tung Streets.

At that time, a man on a motorbike drove up, picked Cuong up, and sped away.

After days of following his operations, Tuoi Tre knew that Cuong had close relations with many vehicle keepers and guards on Le Lai and Ton That Tung Streets.

Such thefts often occur in many areas in District 1, but they were also recorded in other districts, such as District 3, District 4, and Tan Binh District.

A Vinasun taxi driver named Thinh told Tuoi Tre that the area around Le Lai and Ton That Tung Streets and the Hai Ba Trung-Tran Cao Van crossroads are two places where car drivers often lose their car accessories to thieves.

Thieves said a stolen wiper is sold to traders for VND100,000-200,000 (US$4.6-9.2), while taxi drivers who have lost this item have to pay VND500,000-700,000 for a new one provided by the taxi company.

Therefore, such drivers often to go to Dan Sinh Market in District 1 to buy stolen wipers on sale for VND300,000-350,000 only.

On June 4, Tuoi Tre reporters went to the market and a trader offered to sell a wiper for VND350,000 and a wheel cover for VND150,000.

Besides Dan Sinh, drivers who lose such accessories can also buy them from traders of car parts on Tran Binh Trong and An Duong Vuong Streets in District 5.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City said they have arrested many thieves of automobile parts.

In June 2014, 16 members of a gang that operated on a large scale were nabbed, police said, adding that the ring often targeted deluxe cars such as Rolls-Royce, Mercedes, Sprinter, Ford Everest, and Camry.

On June 6, police in District 1 told Tuoi Tre that local police have caught many thieves who belonged to professional gangs, and are continuing to work to detect others.