A borrowed motorbike is a stolen motorbike. If that’s not an old Cambodian proverb by now, it should be.

Police said the popular swindle/Blotter staple worked once again on Monday, this time in Svay Rieng town.

After persuading a male neighbour to let them borrow his moto for a trip to market, a young man and his wife, both 22, simply headed to Banteay Meanchey, where they sold the bike.

Picked up by police after returning, the couple quickly confessed, adding that they were broke and first-time scammers. Unsurprisingly, the money had all been spent. KOH SANTEPHEAP