A Rolex watch. Photo by Phillips
A Filipino man from Hanoi was sentenced to eight years in prison for entering the gym of a five-star hotel and stealing several high-end watches and other goods, worth a total of more than 2 billion VND ($80,963).
Franz Noel Espiritu Patawaran, 33, was sentenced to prison on Tuesday by the Hanoi People’s Committee for theft.
Franz entered Vietnam on June 30, 2022 and traveled from HCMC to Hanoi. On December 24, 2022, around 11 a.m., he stole his lover’s motorcycle and went to a five-star hotel in Ba Dinh district with the intention of stealing properties, prosecutors said.
Franz then went to the 4th floor to meet the receptionist, gave them a false name and entered the gymnasium. He said there was no guard at the scene, so he opened the lockers and stole four Rolex watches, worth VND600 million, a Louis Vuitton belt and VND6 million in species.
He then opened another locker and stole a Patek Philippe Geneve watch, worth VND1.4 billion, and VND1 million in cash. The stolen property was determined to belong to two patrons who were swimming at the gym.
Franz hid the stolen goods at his home. Three days later, he pawned the Patek Philippe watch for VND20 million. He was finally arrested on December 28 and the pawnbroker returned the stolen watch to authorities.
