Broken bike throws a spanner in thief’s plans

First rule of successful moto thievery: pick a bike that works. That’s the lesson a local man will take away from his aborted attempt to score some new wheels on Friday. Police said the man crept onto a farmer’s land and proceeded to simply walk away with the bike. At the 200-metre mark, the farmer spotted him and came running. Jumping on the bike to speed away, the man quickly discovered that the moto was in need of a mechanic. Moments later, villagers had subdued him and turned him over to the police. Koh Santepheap

Lady luck also fails to shine outside casino

A Vietnamese national is behind bars in the casino town of Bavet after choosing to roll the dice on moto theft. Police said the 36-year-old hopped the border on Friday and attempted to score some quick cash by pilfering a bike parked outside a casino. Following up on the victim’s complaint, police found the bike – and the thief – at the shop where he had just sold the hot moto. The thief confessed it was the second stolen bike he had sold there. Bad news for the shop owner, who was booked for receiving stolen property. Koh Santepheap

Reckless teen collides with family on night out

A drunken teen left himself and three others – one an infant – badly injured in the wake of a Friday night accident in the capital’s Dangkor district. Police said the 17-year-old was driving home soused and “out of control” from a party when his moto collided with a motorbike carrying a young couple and their one-year-old daughter. All four are still in hospital. Kampuchea Thmey

Takeo cowboy caught after looting two lasses

A five-man robbery crew is down to four after an arrest in Takeo’s Trang district. Police said their man was with four others during Khmer New Year when the gang fired a gun into the air as they forced two women to pull over and give up their valuables. Arrested Friday, the 31-year-old confessed, adding that the men had wanted spending money for the New Year and that the loot was long gone. Police are now searching for his accomplices. Rasmey Kampuchea

Military men loosen chin straps for yama pipe

Three soldiers will likely be doing their next patrols in the prison yard after a little R&R took an unsavoury turn in the capital’s Sen Sok district on Saturday. Police said the trio were caught red-handed while smoking yama in an abandoned building. The three – all between 25 and 27 years of age – assured police that it was, in fact, the first time they’d ever tried the stuff, a fact that left the local authorities unmoved. Nokorwat

Translated by Phak Seangly