Foreign National Arrested for Daring Jewelry Store Heist in Da Nang
On August 28th, the Da Nang Police arrested a suspect in a shocking jewelry store robbery that gripped the city. Leaders of the Criminal Police Division provided detailed reports on the intense manhunt and capture of the perpetrator.
Suspect using a weapon to incapacitate the security guard on duty outside the jewelry store
Tourist Turns Thief: A Daring Jewelry Heist in Da Nang
According to the police, the suspect, West Dale James (born 1996, a foreign national), had only entered Vietnam on July 1st, 2025, with a tourist visa.
Initial investigation results indicate that due to a lack of funds, the young man devised a plan to rob a jewelry store upon his arrival in Da Nang.
In a report on the crime-solving operation, Lieutenant Colonel Luong Quoc Nghia, Head of the Criminal Police Division of Da Nang City Police, revealed that before taking action, the perpetrator carefully studied and selected the target location, and prepared tools such as a metal chisel, a hammer, a disguise to conceal his identity, a backpack, and a rented motorbike with a removed license plate.
On the night of August 26th, West Dale James struck.
Locals attempted to lock the door and detain the jewelry store robber, but he managed to escape.
At 7:45 pm, the suspect arrived at the scene. Witnesses saw him wearing a Grab jacket, a helmet, and a mask as he walked determinedly towards the jewelry store.
“He attacked the security guard repeatedly with a weapon and then rushed into the store to steal the jewelry. Within a few seconds, he had gathered the gold items and put them into his backpack,” recounted a witness.
At that moment, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Th. (born 1977, a resident of Thanh Khe ward) – the security guard of the jewelry store, was sitting outside on duty when he was suddenly assaulted by West Dale James, who struck him multiple times on the head with a 20cm metal chisel, causing him to fall to the ground, according to the initial report from the Da Nang Police.
Caught off guard, the security guard sustained injuries and raised the alarm. Meanwhile, the perpetrator rushed inside, smashed the glass display cases with a hammer, and grabbed jewelry, putting it into his backpack.
Hearing the commotion, some locals rushed to the scene and tried to block the exit with sticks to prevent the suspect from escaping. However, the perpetrator broke through the glass door and fled the scene, leaving everyone stunned.
Just 14 hours after the crime, West Dale James was arrested while hiding in an apartment in An Hai ward, Da Nang.
An Intense 14-Hour Manhunt Leads to the Recovery of All Stolen Items
Upon receiving the report, the Command and Information Center of the Da Nang City Police immediately dispatched forces to secure the scene. The atmosphere was tense, and the entire Nui Thanh street in front of the jewelry store was cordoned off.
Dozens of officers and equipment were deployed to initiate a search for the perpetrator. The Criminal Police Division of Da Nang City Police took charge of the operation. The city’s police leadership was present at the scene to direct the investigation.
“If we hadn’t acted swiftly to identify and apprehend the suspect, he might have fled Da Nang within a few hours,” recounted a leader of the Criminal Police Division of Da Nang City Police.
The stolen gold and jewelry items were hidden in the ceiling of the bathroom in the apartment where the suspect was staying.
Based on CCTV footage and witness statements, the investigators identified the suspect as a foreigner riding a PCX scooter. On his way back to his apartment, the perpetrator disposed of the jewelry into a bag and threw away the backpack along the route.
At 10:30 am on August 27th, after an intense 14-hour manhunt, the task force knocked on the door of an apartment on Pham Tu Street in An Hai ward, Da Nang.
Inside, a panicked West Dale James attempted to flee but was swiftly apprehended by the officers. He then revealed the hiding place of the stolen jewelry—in the ceiling of the bathroom of the apartment he was renting.
Upon inspection, the Da Nang Police recovered 20 gold jewelry items, including 11 pieces with diamonds, totaling nearly VND 833 million in value.
The Da Nang Police Department commended and rewarded the Criminal Police Division and the Ngu Hanh Son Ward Police for their outstanding performance in solving the case.
On the morning of August 28th, Major General Nguyen Huu Hop, Director of Da Nang City Police, hosted a ceremony to announce the decision and present a “reward” to the Criminal Police Division and the Ngu Hanh Son Ward Police for their outstanding performance in solving the case.
Major General Nguyen Huu Hop acknowledged, commended, and highly appreciated the achievements of the units. “This victory once again adds to the heroic and glorious tradition of the Da Nang City Police Force in fighting crime,” he affirmed. “It also serves as tangible proof that Da Nang is a safe and attractive destination for both locals and international visitors.”
On this occasion, the Da Nang Police Department awarded a bonus of VND 20 million to the Criminal Police Division and VND 10 million to the Ngu Hanh Son Ward Police, funded by the city’s Crime Prevention Fund.
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