{"id":7430,"date":"2021-06-07T10:52:06","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T02:52:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=7430"},"modified":"2022-03-23T11:15:59","modified_gmt":"2022-03-23T03:15:59","slug":"red-bull-bank-robbery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/red-bull-bank-robbery\/","title":{"rendered":"Men Rob Bank With A Red Bull Can ‘Grenade’, Surrender To Police A Few Days Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

Men use a Red Bull can to rob a bank\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Before COVID-19 struck, robberies were a cause for concern across the world for many nations. <\/span>From guns to knives, robbers have historically used various weapons to threaten bank staff and customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there’s one ‘weapon’ that’s been unheard of until it was successfully used to rob a bank – a can of Red Bull<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This scene was by no means a commercial for the popular energy drink, but a real-life event that took place in Quang Nam, Vietnam. To rob a bank, the suspects attempted to pass off a Red Bull can as a “grenade”, in order to threaten bank staff and steal money<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bank robbery attempt was to pay off their debts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"Red
\nImage adapted from: Phap Luat<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On 1st April 2020, 26-year-old <\/span>Thanh<\/b> and 28-year-old <\/span>Quang <\/b>came up with the idea of robbing a bank for some money to pay off their debts.<\/span><\/p>\n

No heist is convincing without a weapon. So they decided to make a grenade out of a drink that’s ultra popular with Vietnamese people – Red Bull. To give the drink container a deadly look, they masked it with black tape and placed a small bulb inside the can, <\/span>Phap Luat<\/span><\/a> <\/em>reports.<\/span><\/p>\n

When they both arrived at a bank in Nui Thanh, Quang stood guard at the gate with the \u201cgrenade\u201d in hand. Meanwhile, Quang went in and held a knife to the neck of a bank teller.<\/span><\/p>\n

When another bank staff sounded the alarm, Quang ran into the premises holding the Red Bull can, shouting, \u201cFreeze! Or I’ll set off the grenade.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Red
\nA Red Bull can for illustration purposes only<\/em>
\nImage credit: Requaluonne<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Terrified at what appeared to be an armed robbery, the bank teller placed VND200 million (~USD8,676.22)<\/strong> of cash in the robbers\u2019 backpack.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the successful robbery, the robbers used the money to pay off their debts and went home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though they got away with their scheme, the men who had the guts to rob a bank with a fake grenade couldn’t handle the fear of seeing their acts mentioned in the media.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Turned themselves in after several days<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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After the incident, a police report was made immediately. News of the bank robbery and the robbers’ modus operandi<\/em> hit the headlines on the same day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing themselves on the local police\u2019s wanted list, Thanh and Quang got cold feet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing it was only a matter of time before they were found and identified, the two friends decided to turn themselves in shortly after.<\/span><\/p>\n

Flashforward about 2 months later, Thanh and Quang stood trial for their crimes on 3rd June 2021. Both were eventually sentenced to 9 years in prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Men commit a bank robbery with a Red Bull can<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Suspects who pull off successful heists doesn’t always make the news, but we think this case is rather unique.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Until today, we had no idea that an energy drink could also be used as a weapon to carry out a federal crime. While the robbers succeeded at their attempts, their Red Bull can didn\u2019t <\/span>give them wings to fly off the hook in the end.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also check out:<\/span><\/p>\n