HCM CITY — A gang of four robbers stabbed three persons in the process of escaping after stealing an SH-brand motorcycle parked on the pavement while its owner had gone to a shop, according to the Việt Nam News Agency.

District 3’s police force in HCM City, in collaboration with other anti-crime police of the city, began investigation into the incident on the evening of May 13 and launched a manhunt for the robbers.

According to preliminary information, at some 8.30pm on Sunday, some members of Tân Bình District’s volunteer robber-hunter group noticed a street robbery on the Cách Mạng Tháng Tám (August Revolution) Road.

The group members immediately went after the robbers who managed to flee on their motorcycles. They caught up with the gang after chasing them for hundreds of metres.

The robbers defended themselves with weapons, causing serious injury to four members of the robber-hunter group. The robbers quickly fled from the scene.

Nguyễn Thị Kim Oanh, 45, who was present near the crime scene, said: “I heard someone shout ‘Robbery’. I ran out to see the two groups fighting. I could not differentiate between the robbers and robber hunters. After a strong fight, the injured were covered in blood. One of the persons was seriously wounded and was lying on the road. When the two sides were fighting, a young man suddenly began attacking people with a knife wounding many. Two persons then fled on a motorbike, followed by another.”

The injured were rushed to the hospital. Two of them died of serious wounds. The deceased are Nguyễn Hoàng Nam and Nguyễn Văn Thôi. Another robber hunter died at the hospital early morning today.

The robber hunter group in Tân Bình District was established by city resident Trần Văn Hoàng. Participation was voluntary. — VNS