Heartless Pursat moto theft a doggone shame

An unlucky Pursat man woke up to find his dog dead and motorcycle gone after thieves broke into his house while he was sleeping. The robbers cruelly poisoned the pooch who was on duty downstairs while his master slept soundly above. Police believe the suspects observed the man and his family at length before sneaking in and offing the dog when things were quiet. Police are asking villagers in Pursat’s Phnom Kravanh district to throw them a bone if they know the suspects’ whereabouts. KampucheaThmey

Hungry phone thief gets his fill of vigilante justice

It took one cry from a distressed shop owner to turn a group of bystanders and taxi drivers in Phnom Penh’s Chamkamon district into crime fighters. A 32-year-old female phone store owner sounded the alarm after realising a customer had snatched a mobile phone while her back was turned. The man took off but the gallant group chased him down and turned him over to the police. The 23-year-old suspect confessed, but said he had acted out of desperation, and did not have enough money for food. Koh Santepheap

Familial rebuke sparks drunk’s fiery passions

Blood may be thicker than water, but when a family member tries to burn your house down, water definitely proves more useful. A family spat in the town of Serei Sophaon in Banteay Meanchey last week got heated when a 28-year-old man was scolded by a relative for getting drunk rather than going to work. The man, a construction worker, was angered by the accusation and attempted to set fire to the family member’s house, but was fended off and arrested. The suspected arsonist went to court on Sunday. Koh Santepheap

Man learns not to lend things to neighbours

When the 26-year-old fiancé of his neighbour asked him for a lift into Phnom Penh, a generous moto owner from Kandal’s Sa’ang district obliged. The villager picked the fiancé up and drove him into town, where his passenger intended to buy his own moto. However, the day soured when the young man asked to borrow the moto “to meet some friends” and never returned. The stranded villager told police, but the suspect and his “borrowed” moto are still at large. Nokorwat

Common courtesy gets the axe in Phnom Penh

A man who told a motorbike driver and his friend not to block his driveway received a sharp reply when one of the two took an axe to his head. The 46-year-old man, from Phnom Penh’s Sensok district, was hospitalised. The two suspects, aged 20 and 35, attempted to flee the scene but were arrested by police and now face court. Nokorwat

Translated by Phak Seangly