A suspected burglar was handed over to police by villagers yesterday, but only after a mob of locals detained and beat the man unconscious for allegedly breaking into the Phnom Penh house of a Chinese garment factory employee, police said.

In a second instance of mob justice in as many weeks, suspect Pov Sopheak, 26, was caught by the group of vigilantes upon escaping the house in Choam Chao commune after a brief fight with the tenant, according to Por Sen Chey district deputy police chief Chab Chantha.

“The suspect was accused of stealing, and was caught and hit by an angry mob of villagers,” he said. “We detained him, and prepared the case for sending him to the court.”

Sopheak, also a resident of Choam Chao, was accused of trying to steal two mobile phones and $100. During the robbery, Chantha said, Sopheak was confronted by the victim, and managed to escape the house, only to be apprehended when the victim called for help.