HCMC bank robber trio arrested within 22 hours

The police apprehended Nguyen Ngoc My, 30, as he was performing procedures to escape from Vietnam from Tan Son Nhat airport. They also detained Lam Phuc Loi, 32, as he was hiding in Long An Province that borders HCMC, and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, 22 as she was hiding in HCMC's Tan Phu District.

The police managed to seize around VND3.5 billion of the money robbed, along with other pieces of evidence.

Nguyen Ngoc My (L) and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen at a police station in HCMC, and the money they had robbed from a bank. Photo courtesy of HCMC police

Authorities said My was the mastermind of the scheme. The suspects said they were all in debt, and they got to know each other on Facebook and devised plans to secure money.

Earlier this month, the three planned to rob the Nhi Xuan Transaction Office of Sacombank in Hoc Mon District. My and Loi ordered two makeshift guns online and a motorbike, which was painted black to be used for the heist. Tuyen rented a car to assist her accomplices during the robbery and the escape.

At around 8 a.m. on Oct. 24, Tuyen drove a car with My, while Loi rode the motorbike. They came to the transaction office and waited for the right opportunity. At 10 a.m., Loi and My stormed in the place and used guns to threated the guards, employees and customers there. Loi then forced the bank employees to put the money in a bag that was prepared beforehand, before the group left the scene on the motorbike.

My and Loi then set the motorbike, clothes and bags on fire to remove their tracks. Tuyen then came to get her accomplices, before hiding in different locations in District 12.

The same afternoon, the trio got on a taxi to get to Vung Tau that borders HCMC, split the money and each went on the run on their own.

The investigation is continued.