Police in Kampong Cham province arrested two suspects following a spate of dog thefts in the provincial capital.

Deputy police chief Choem Senghong said the suspects, teen boys aged 17 and 19 arrested on Saturday, were released earlier this week because their crimes were considered petty and after eliciting promises from their parents that they would no longer steal dogs.

Two other suspects, a married couple, were arrested last month and remain in custody after police said they admitted to poisoning as many as 200 dogs to sell for meat.

Sor Sarin, village chief of Boeng Basak, said his prized dog was among those stolen and poisoned for food.

“My dog was so clever and everyone loved it,” he said, adding that about 20 canines are stolen and poisoned for food in his village every year.