Ho Chi Minh City: Authorities dismantle a large-scale cat theft ring.

On February 8th, the Dong Thanh Commune Police (Ho Chi Minh City) announced that they had discovered and dismantled a group of individuals specializing in stealing cats from residents to sell, seizing numerous related items.

The suspects and the seized evidence were apprehended. Photo: Police

Through intelligence gathering in the area, authorities discovered a group of teenagers who regularly operated at night, using motorbikes and carrying tools to trap animals in order to steal cats from residential areas. The commune police concentrated their forces on monitoring, gathering evidence, and implementing countermeasures.

Police seized tools used for trapping cats. Photo: Police.

During an administrative inspection of a house in Hamlet 42, Dong Thanh Commune, authorities discovered six individuals, including Do Trung Phat (born in 2005), Do Quoc Binh (born in 2006), Do Nguyen Anh Quan (born in 2005), Nguyen Thanh Dat (born in 2006), Nguyen Chanh Tin (born in 2004, all residing in Dong Thanh Commune), and Trinh Quoc Huy (born in 2006, residing in Dong Hung Thuan Ward), exhibiting suspicious behavior.

At the scene, the police seized 18 cats along with various tools used for trapping, transporting, and a can of pepper spray. The suspects confessed that they usually gathered at night, splitting into groups to catch cats in Dong Thanh commune and surrounding areas, then selling them to buyers for money to spend.

Police seized 18 cats. Photo: Police

Expanding the investigation, the Dong Thanh commune police summoned several more related individuals, including someone who directly purchased the cats stolen by this group. Through verification, it was determined that the suspects organized themselves into roles and carried out thefts multiple times over the past period.

Authorities have posted images of the stolen items on social media for public identification. To date, 10 households whose cats were stolen have come forward to report the incidents and have had their property returned.

The police in Dong Thanh commune returned the cats to the households that had lost them.

The Dong Thanh commune police have issued a decision to initiate a criminal case, indict the suspects, and temporarily detain the individuals involved for investigation into the theft of property. They are also continuing to search for a fugitive to be dealt with according to the law.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/phap-luat/tp-ho-chi-minh-triet-pha-nhom-doi-tuong-trom-cap-meo-so-luong-lon-20260208173615922.htm