In the past month, four bank robberies occurred in Quang Ninh, Hanoi, Lam Dong, and Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

Most recently, a robbery took place at BIDV’s Southwest Quang Ninh branch, where the suspect threatened employees with a knife and stole VND417 million. The next day, police arrested the suspect, Nguyen Van Bao, hiding in Phuong Dong Ward, Uong Bi City. 

Bao confessed that because he often passed by the bank area, he knew when it was closing and when there were few people around. When he saw there was no one, Bao went to the counter, threatened the staff, robbed the money, and ran away.

Prior to that, on May 21, at an Eximbank branch in Vung Tau City, a suspect broke the glass door, used a knife to intimidate staff, and stole a basket containing about VND520 million. The suspect was subdued and arrested immediately after fleeing.

Another incident occurred on May 12 at an SHB branch in Lam Dong. The suspect entered with a gasoline bottle, threatening staff to rob money. When an employee triggered the alarm, the suspect fled without taking anything. Police arrested the suspect within an hour.

The fourth robbery happened on April 21 at VietinBank’s Phu My branch (Phu Nghia Commune, Chuong My District, Hanoi). The suspect, armed with a knife and gasoline, threatened staff, demanded money be placed in a backpack, and escaped with VND214 million. After a 38-hour manhunt, Hanoi Police, with the cooperation with the Criminal Police Department, arrested the suspect at a makeshift camp by the Red River, Linh Nam Ward, Hoang Mai District.

How do alarm buttons work?

Recent cases show the effectiveness of alarm systems in bank branches, preventing theft and protecting lives. Many banks have installed alarms connected directly to the police. When activated, the alarm alerts all branch staff and sends an “SOS” signal to authorities.

Alarm buttons are typically placed under desks or counters for easy access by tellers. All of LPBank’s branches have alarm systems, though they’ve only been used in mock drills, as the bank has not faced any robberies. At Agribank, security measures are prioritized, with staff successfully using alarms to thwart incidents.

For example, on September 25, 2023, in MyT ho City (Tien Giang), a suspect used a homemade gun to threaten staff at Agribank’s My Tho Industrial Zone branch. Tellers quickly activated the alarm connected to the Tien Giang Police 113 Center. 

Policemen and security guards quickly arrived at the scene and called on the subject to drop the homemade gun. The subject dropped the gun and escaped on a motorbike, but was arrested two days later.

In January 2024, at an Agribank branch in Quang Nam, two suspects overpowered a security guard and threatened staff with weapons, demanding money. As they collected cash, a teller triggered the alarm, causing the suspects to abandon the bag, weapons, and money before fleeing by motorbike. They were arrested a day later in Thua Thien – Hue.

Bank security guards

Following recent bank-related thefts and robberies nationwide, investing in security equipment and professional security personnel is critical. 

“Many bank branches only have 1-2 guards for parking, with no security inside,” said Ha, a VietNamNet reader from Hanoi.

It is quite common that security guards at banks often lack proper training, are older, and slow to respond to incidents. They seem to lack vigilance and fail to monitor effectively. Banks should reassess their recruitment and training of security personnel. There should be at least two security staff - one inside and one outside. More importantly, the age and professional skills of guards need attention. 

“Currently, many are older and slow, which isn’t adequate for the job,” he said, adding that banks possibly are saving money by hiring older guards, most of whom are retirees.

“Banks need to hire professional guards with good health, martial arts skills, and proper tools, trained thoroughly to meet the job’s demands. Retired guards may lack the physical capacity,” reader Doan Dung noted.

Binh Duong Police previously advised banks to recruit well-trained guards in sufficient numbers and equip them with tools like rubber-bullet guns, electric batons, or truncheons. Authorities also recommend that bank staff memorize suspects’ identifying features - clothing, hair, face, voice, tattoos - and details like the vehicle used or escape direction during a robbery.

Tuan Nguyen