Guards stop alleged thief’s large bag snatch

An alleged thief nearly got away with $7,000 from a stall at Phnom Penh’s Boeung Keng Kang market on Sunday. According to police, the stall owner was too busy doing business to notice that the suspect had allegedly absconded with her purse. The vendor shouted for help, and market security guards collared the perp, who reportedly confessed and was sent to court. The police returned the money, along with a kindly reminder to the vendor not to keep thousands of dollars in her handbag. DEUM AMPIL

Forgotten lock prompts victim’s walk of shame

Burning shame reportedly prompted a Kampong Chhnang town man to lie to police about the theft of his motorbike on Saturday. Police said the man called them to report that he had been robbed at gunpoint by a gang of thieves. Upon investigation, however, police found that the man’s moto had been stolen because he forgot to lock it while he and his girlfriend had a bite to eat. Police said the loss was his own fault, but are nonetheless still looking for the thieves. KOH SANTEPHEAP

Clever thieves trick police into helping with a score

Some wily thieves almost succeeded in making the police their accomplices in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district on Saturday. According to police, the two men reported to two nearby cops that their motorbike wasn’t working. The obliging officers helped the men take it to a nearby repair shop, only to hear that the station had received a report that two cops had just stolen a moto. The cops went back and detained the con artists, who reportedly confessed and were sent to court. KOH SANTEPHEAP

Gamblers get angry before hitting tables

Two men were arrested in Poipet on Sunday after they and their three mates took a gamble on trying to get into a casino from which they were barred. Police said the men approached the entrance to the casino only to be told by a guard that management had forbidden from entering, due to their unsavoury reputations. The men allegedly turned on the bearer of the bad news, and beat him. Police managed to pinch two, but the others got away. KAMPUCHEA THMEY

Cattle rustlers nabbed in police ‘steakout’

Police arrested four alleged habitual cattle rustlers who didn’t know when to call it quits in Kampong Cham town on Saturday. According to police, residents had complained time and again that their cows were disappearing overnight, prompting them to stake out – or rather, steak out – one villager’s home. The suspects showed up and attempted to make off with another cow, only to be rounded up by the cops. The men reportedly confessed to stealing cows. KOH SANTEPHEAP

Translated by Sen David