GOLD HEIST

Police are searching for four men suspected of robbing two gold vendors in Siem Reap town's Svay Dangkum commune on Friday. Siem Reap deputy district police chief Mak Sam On told the Post that bandits armed with guns robbed Song Sopheap and Reach Kunthea as they returned from Loeu Thom Thmey market, making off with US$9,000, 45 million riels ($10,737) and 60 damlung (2.25kg) of gold and platinum. "It tends to be difficult to search for gunmen as they are not residents here," he said Monday, adding that the couple were the first gold vendors to be robbed in Siem Reap for several years. "However, we are now investigating and will try our best ... to hunt for the men, as we have some means of identifying the suspects." Mak Sam On added that Reach Kunthea was "seriously injured" in her struggles with the robbers.