A security guard in Siem Reap town was arrested in Pursat province on Friday, accused of stealing rubies and imitation rubies worth $26,000 from a shop he had guarded.

Nol Rong, deputy chief of Siem Reap’s serious crime police, said yesterday that the suspect, Sorn Soeun, also known as Thai Thol, 47, was employed by Star security company and was one of a number of guards involved in copying the shop’s key and returning at 3am last Tuesday to steal the rubies.

“We’ll continue questioning the suspect in order to arrest other accomplices,” Rong said, adding that Soeun was still in police custody in Preah Sihanouk.

“He has stolen the rubies and kept them at his father-in-law’s home.”

It was at this property, in Pursat’s Kandieng district, that police found the rubies, Rong said.

Three laptop computers and six two-way radios, believed to be used during the break-in, were also seized.

Star security company could not be reached for comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Sarom at [email protected]