A down-in-the-dumps migrant worker couldn’t steal away from his blues after a botched robbery landed him a beating rather than a buck.

The 31-year-old lost his job farming in Pursat town but thought he’d finally been dealt better fortunes when he spotted a farmer’s unattended motorbike on Friday.

While the thief attempted to make off with the bike, a neighbour spotted him and yelled to the farmer, who along with several other villagers pursued the runaway crook.

Police intervened before villagers could impart more than a few bruises. KOH STANTEPHEAP