A first-time moto thief is no doubt cursing himself for dragging his heels on that most simple of post-theft duties: changing the licence plate.

Police said the 23-year-old had made off with the bike at a Daun Penh district market on Tuesday morning and chose to take it for a joyride rather than disguise its provenance.

When the bike broke down, he took it to a repair shop, which is where he was sitting when police spotted the plate number filed in a complaint by the true owner. The thief said he had planned to change the plate later that day. KOH SANTEPHEAP