A gang of armed robbers in Siem Reap province yesterday broke into a local gold seller’s house, making away with around $65,000 in cash, jewellery and other valuables, according to police.

Min Chantha, Bakong district police chief, said the three suspects, armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and two handguns, broke into 43-year-old Khan Laysang’s house at around 1am yesterday, while he and his family were fast asleep.

After prying open the window to get inside the property, the thieves tied up Laysang, his wife, 33-year-old Plouk Sotheary, and their 6-year-old son.

The men “threatened them with the guns to take the money, two phones, an iPad, and jewellery”, Chantha said.

“Before they left, one of the robbers untied the knot for the little boy . . . so after seeing the thieves had gone, he then tried to untie the knot for his parents.”

Chantha said a “major operation”, coordinated by provincial and military police, was under way to find the suspects, but at the time of print they were still at large.

Laysang could not be reached for comment.

Yesterday’s robbery marks the latest in a spate of gold heists in the Kingdom.

Earlier this month, three armed robbers stole nearly $5,000 worth of cash and jewellery in a violent home invasion in Takeo province that left a couple badly beaten.