Three of five men busted while allegedly burgling a house in Kandal province on Wednesday are still at large and believed to be armed.

Provincial and district police came upon the thieves about 5:30pm as they were breaking into a house in Prek Chrov village of Roka Korng II commune in Muk Kampoul district. One of the men was shot and injured while trying to escape.

The two men caught, Hing Ny, the 43-year-old who was shot, and Srey Sraon, 32, have a long criminal history and were the gang’s leaders, according to Muk Kampoul district police chief of staff Yern Sarat.

“Hing Ny is an active armed robber and used to commit armed robberies in many provinces – Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Pursat and Kandal – and he was wanted for a warrant from Kandal Provincial Court,” Sarat said.

“Srey Sraon spent time in Prey Sar prison for many years because of theft and had just been released in mid-October 2015.”

Sarat said that Ny and Sraon had travelled to Kandal from Kampong Speu province three days earlier to recruit their accomplices, who were to provide guns and potential robbery targets.

However, Sarat added, local detectives were prompted to tail the duo after being made aware of Ny’s wanted status and Sraon’s record, waiting for them to attempt a robbery on Wednesday before moving in.

Two of the remaining three are believed to be armed and in a car. The third fled on foot and is thought to be hiding in a nearby village. All three are thought to have committed another Kandal robbery last December, according to Kandal deputy police chief Roeun Nara.