Five noisy thieves saw their plan to steal five motorbikes crumble in the wee hours yesterday in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district.

Police said the gang, aged 18 to 22, were halfway home in their theft attempt when they awoke the home’s owner, who called police.

As cops swooped in, three of the men bolted on one of the motos, leaving behind four of their would-be rides and two companions. The duo in custody confessed, saying it was their first offence. DEUM AMPIL