Armed robbers stole US$30,000 from a jeweller and shot her husband in the chest in a brutal attack in Oddar Meanchey province on Sunday.

Eyewitness said that three robbers targeted jewel and gold seller Horn Malay, aged 19, who works in Anlong Veng market, at around 5.30pm.  Driving a black and red motorbike, the men followed her to her home in Thnal Kaeng village before opening fire with two AK47 rifles.

The vendor’s husband – 29-year-old Seang Tha – was shot twice in the chest and is being treated for serious injuries in hospital in Siem Reap. The robbers stole a bag containing $30,000.

“We asked police to pay more attention to protecting the market’s security and appealed to all jewellers to be more cautious with their own property,” deputy Anlong Veng district police chief Sou Nouv said yesterday.

Police said they have yet to make any arrests, but an investigation is underway.

The crime is the latest in a series of high-profile robberies involving gold sellers.

Earlier this month, a former police official was arrested in connection with the murder and robbery of a gold seller in the capital. Her death was captured on a security camera and circulated on the internet.

Lay Vanak, aged 31, has been named as a suspect in the murder of 54-year-old Chhuon Theara. Police are searching for two alleged accomplices in the robbery, during which more than $30,000 was stolen.