Police said yesterday that they are searching for suspects who allegedly broke into and stole more than $10,000 from a two-storey villa in Ratanakkiri province’s Banlung town owned by logging tycoon Try Pheap.

Officers initiated an investigation into the burglary after receiving a complaint filed by Pheap’s housekeeper in early May, according to provincial minor crime police officer Leang Im.

“His house was burglarised when the housekeeper did not stay there for about 20 days before and after the Khmer New Year days,” Banlung’s Beung Kanseng commune police chief Rom Sarith said. “We don’t know exactly when the house was broken into.”

Police arrested a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old last week in connection to the crime and for allegedly stealing more than $20,000 from a grocery store.

After interrogation, however, police determined that the boys were not involved in burglarising Pheap’s villa.

“This group did not break into Try Pheap’s house. It was another group. We have no traces since the house was not equipped with security cameras,” Sarith said.

Im added that they received results on Friday from further inspection of the site.

“It is a difficult case. We are checking the results, so that we can follow the investigation,” he said.