A suspected thief was shot dead by police on Sunday night following a violent robbery in Prey Veng province, an official said yesterday.

Chey Sengheang, Preah Sdech district police chief, said a group of thieves dressed in military uniforms and armed with two rifles raided a grocery store in Ampil village at about 8pm on Sunday, stealing some 30,000 to 40,000 riel ($7.40 to $9.80).

The owner of the store tried to stop the thieves but was beaten and forced back into his house, Sengheang said.

According to Sengheang, following the incident police accidentally shot dead 43-year-old suspect Prak Heab.

“We did not want to kill him but it was too dark and they shot at us first. If we did not shoot to scare them, they would have killed us,” he said, adding that blood at the scene suggested that another suspect was injured.