Man hides inside HCMC restaurants to steal

Phan Thanh Nam, 44, was arrested by police in Phu Nhuan District on Thursday for stealing and other potential crimes.

Authorities said Nam would hide inside restaurants and wait until they close up shop to come out and steal cash.

Nam was stealing the money because he was badly in debt, according to investigators.

On April 26, he pretended to be a customer and entered a fast-food restaurant on Phan Xich Long Street before hiding in the restaurant’s toilet.

At night, when the restaurant was closed and employees went home, Nam came out with a hoodie and a mask, destroyed surveillance cameras, and stole VND37 million ($1,578).

A security guard caught Nam trying to escape, but Nam incapacitated him and got away.

To evade authorities, Nam used several motorbike taxis to travel on multiple roads before returning home to Tan Binh District.

But after several days on his tail, police officers managed to capture him.

Nam admitted to having used the stolen money to pay off debts.