1 dead, 2 injured in motorbike theft at gunpoint

1 dead, 2 injured in motorbike theft at gunpoint

One young man died and two other people were seriously injured in Vientiane early yesterday morning after two men shot them in a motorbike robbery, according to an official from Vientiane Police Headquarters.

The shooting occurred between 2 and 3am, when two men and a woman were on their way home after a birthday celebration. As they rode through Thongtoum village in Chanthabouly district, two men on a motorbike pulled up behind them and fired several shots with a pistol.

One of the men died on the spot, a second was seriously injured and the woman was shot in the leg.

The official said the attackers showed no mercy in the horrifying incident. They said they were most likely hardened criminals whom police had been pursuing for some time.

“This attack is similar to three previous incidents that have occurred in Vientiane since January. We believe they are the same men who used a pistol to steal motorbikes on Khouvieng Road and in Phonpapao village last week,” he said.

Officials vowed to track down the killers and arrest them.

V ientiane Police Headquarters told Vientiane Times that several serial crimina ls had fled to the provinces and neighbouring countries to avoid arrest.

Officials said the men probably had close friends with whom they could stay after carrying out a motorcycle theft or other robbery, and would leave Vientiane to go into hiding.

“We arrested several major criminals during the Vientiane Games but we suspect the men involved in last night's shooting had fled Vientiane so they evaded our net. We are now discussing how best to bring them to justice,” an official said.

Vientiane Police Headquarters issues constant reminders through the media about how people can guard against crimes such as motorcycle theft, bag snatching, burglary and road accidents.

“Some people are in the habit of returning home late at night. This makes them an easy target for would-be thieves and they run the risk of attack,” the official said.

Yesterday's shooting was not the first such incident in Vientiane. In other attempted robberies motorbike riders have escaped with their lives, but on this occasion the victims were helpless in the face of such a brutal attack from behind.

Officials warned night-time road users to exercise caution, especially if they were riding a Suzuki Smash, as the robbers had targeted this brand of motorbike in previous attacks.



By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Latest Update March 17, 2010)