One moment of absent mindedness nearly cost a capital citizen his laptop on Friday, after an opportunistic thief was only stymied by timely mob intervention.

The victim briefly left his laptop on a chair near the door of his house, and returned to see a 25-year-old making off with it.

The victim set off in pursuit, calling out for help as he did so.

The suspect was apprehended by nearby motorists, who dished out a few blows as they did so, before police arrived.

Koh Santepheap