Dang Van Binh of Phu Yen Province shows his net fence that was cut through by a gang of teenaged robbers.

Residents of the sandy Hoa Hiep Trung Commune were used to leaving their vehicle outdoors, but now they chain even the bronze incense holders inside their homes.

The residents of the commune located in the south-central province of Phu Yen say that for the last several months, they live in constant fear of being beaten and robbed, but the police are yet to take their complaints seriously.

The police have played down the danger so far saying the residents are overreacting to a non-serious threat.

Luong Khiem said some robbers broke into his house through the roof when there was no one at home and took copper lamps placed on the family altar.

“The lamps at my neighbors’ had been stolen so I’d chained mine, but they cut through the chain.”

The gangs are not even afraid of raiding the houses of commune officials to steal dogs and other animals.

Dang Van Binh, a commune councilor, said a group of five to seven 14-17 year old youth cut two net fences around his home and took away ducks and chicken.

“When our family saw them, they threw stones at us and threatened us with knives.”

Binh said the gangsters visited each local family and warned them of “troubles” if they reported to the police or the province government.

Another resident, Nguyen Phong Binh, said his house has been invaded and robbed five times at night by a gang who introduced themselves as “White Rose”.

The gang even robs jewelry from people in daylight but no one dares to chase after them, Binh said.

He recalled once the group was about to steal from his neighbor and saw him at his gate. “They told me to go to bed and leave them alone but I said I had work to do outside, so they hit me and threatened to kill me.

“We are lost,” Binh said. “We don’t dare to leave home for work during the day and we’ll be shaking indoors when those kids drive around.

“We beg Dong Hoa (District) police to help bring peace to our neighborhood.”

Binh also named some of the attackers – Uc, Thu, Tri, Nguy, Duoc, and Han, with the last mentioned being treated at Phu Yen General Hospital with injuries from a tree.

Le Xuan An, police chief of Dong Hoa District, told Thanh Nien the residents are just fearful of some teenagers who party and get drunk most of the time.

The residents are hoping and waiting for a more serious response from the Phu Yen police and government.

Reported by Duc Huy