Drunken karaoke singer returns for belting finale

A drunken karaoke night ended on an off-note when a sozzled singer was robbed while he slept in his vehicle. The 46-year-old man stumbled out of a karaoke joint late on Friday night but only got as far his car, parked in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district, where he had a sleep. The kipping crooner was awoken by three thieves stealing his money and mobile phone. He gave chase and in a belting finale, grabbed hold of one of them and took him to the police station. The 28-year-old suspect was sent to court. Raksmei Kampuchea

Rags-to-riches effort ends in mighty big bust

A Poipet man and woman with a history of less-than-legitimate purchases were ratted out when police arrested two alleged clothes thieves. Two men aged 19 and 26 who were caught with a number of stolen rags, told police the couple were regulars of their under-the-counter wares business. The 57-year-old man and 31-year-old woman cried innocent, but their alleged bad shopping habits preceded them and they were sent to court. Raksmei Kampuchea

Pedestrian, not driver, nabbed for hit and run

A motorist’s alleged near-miss of a pedestrian was not without injury when the driver was punched several times in the mouth. Police said the 29-year-old culprit was known to the authorities and at one time a regular troublemaker. He allegedly approached the 32-year-old driver and accused him of trying to run him over. After repaying the man with a knuckle sandwich, he hot-footed it away but was found by patrol police later. He copped to the punch and police sent him to court. Nokorwat

Thieves score $4k bonus on a $10 phone recharge

Four crafty thieves in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district are one step ahead of the law after escaping with $4,000 from an unlucky shop vendor. On Thursday a man and a woman lured the 40-year-old away from his store, asking if they could buy some phone credit. The unwitting seller followed the two cons, while their accomplices rifled through his shop drawer and made off with the dough. The vendor realised his $10 sale had cost him a fortune. Nokorwat

Man tries to sell stolen moto back to its owner

A Kampong Chhnang farmer on the lookout for a new motorbike after his own was stolen found the original for sale at what could described as a very reasonable price. The motorbike’s new owner denied stealing the vehicle, but was ready to trade the model in for $200 after just two weeks. The farmer went to police, who arrested a separate 17-year-old last Thursday. Koh Santepheap

Translated by Phak Seangly