Fake gun nets ‘armed’ robbers very real loot

It's been a week for toy gun crime. A day after an attempted heist in the capital saw its plastic-wielding protagonist jailed, a 59-year-old woman and her grandson fell victim to the same ruse. Police said the two were on a moto when a group of men sporting student uniforms pulled up alongside on two motorbikes and produced the faux weapon. Unaware the gun was fake, the duo quickly gave up not only $70 and a mobile phone, but a land title they had just picked up at a relative’s home. Police are now searching for the suspects. Rasmey Kampuchea

Bad young neighbour is also a really bad thief

A Poipet town casino worker rolled the dice on a burglary on Tuesday only to come up craps. Police said the 23-year-old man waited for his neighbour to leave before sawing through the lock on his apartment’s door and taking his laptop. Unfortunately for our thief, leaving the stolen goods in the middle of his own flat made things all too easy for the cops, who pinched him after receiving a complaint from the computer’s rightful owner. He has since confessed and is now awaiting a date with the judge. Nokorwat

New sucker falls for very old trick in Phnom Penh

The old “can we borrow your moto” routine worked all too well for a pair of thieves in Phnom Penh’s Toul Kork district on Monday. Police say the two men in their early twenties met up with the victim for a drink and proceeded to get him drunk before asking to “borrow” the bike. Hours later he realised the moto wouldn’t be returning, eventually filing a police report. The moto thieves were collared while attempting to sell the hot bike and have been sent to court. Deum Ampil

Some people just don’t know when to call it quits

A pair of necklace snatchers pulled up alongside their mark on Monday, only to have the intended victim gun it, leading them on a chase across the capital, police said. The victim simultaneously screamed for help, drawing the attention of patrolling cops, who swooped in on the unfolding drama and put unwanted bracelets on the would-be jewel thieves. Both are on ice as they await their court date. Kampuchea Thmey

Man wrapping gifts has  his Christmas ruined

Looks like Christmas in Prey Sar for a local drug dealer. Police said they’d been suspicious of the Daun Penh district man for a “long time” but hadn’t had the goods to make a move before this Tuesday, when their raid on his home found the man in the middle of packaging eight drug parcels for his clientele. Caught red-handed, the dope dealer admitted his guilt and has been sent to court. Koh Santepheap

Translated by Sen David