Lunch invite a prelude to drugging, moto theft

A 23-year-old motodop was sent to hospital after a seemingly generous fare in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district slipped him a mickey and stole his moto on Sunday. Police said the victim took an unknown passenger from Central Market to Koh Pich, where he was asked to wait for about 30 minutes while the man had lunch with his friend. After a while, the man asked the victim to join him, secretly drugging the driver’s food. The drowsy ’dop fainted, was dumped in a quiet place, while his customer escaped on his moto. Kampuchea Thmey

Thief returns to scene of crime for victim’s laptop

 An opportunistic teen was outnumbered in the capital’s Russey Keo district on Sunday after allegedly stealing a laptop. According to police, the victim, 24, said he had left his door unlocked when he stepped out to buy cigarettes. When he returned, he saw the suspect escaping with his laptop. The man shouted for help, and nearby residents surrounded the perp and turned him over to police. The victim claimed the suspect stole about $2,000 from him last year. Nokorwat

Man clears mind, thugs pistol-whip his head

Dankor district police in Phnom Penh are searching for a gun-toting trio accused of pistol-whipping a man while stealing a motorbike from a married couple at gunpoint on Saturday night. According to police, the husband, 34, was taking his wife, 44, home from a Buddhist ceremony when three men on a motorbike began following them. They later pulled out guns and demanded the moto. One of them pistol-whipped the husband, saying they would kill them both if they called for help. The men escaped with the bike. Kampuchea Thmey  

Necklaces, motos stolen, and, finally, beans spilled

A 24-year-old snitch spilled the beans on his accomplices after being arrested and sent to court on Monday for multiple thefts in Banteay Meanchey province’s Serei Sophoan town. Police said the suspect and four others had stolen motorbikes and snatched several necklaces around town. At a gas station, police arrested one, who fessed up, also coming clean about his cronies. Nokorwat

Armed man a suspected timber smuggler: police

A could-be timber smuggler was apprehended and sent to court on Monday on suspicion of using a weapon illegally in Ratanakkiri province’s Taveng district. Police said they spotted two men with a rifle in a remote village and stopped them, with one escaping into a nearby forest. The other one was arrested with the rifle and 47 bullets.Police suspected he was attempting to commit a crime, a theory supported by villagers’ claims that timber smugglers were often the only people to carry such a gun. Nokorwat

Translated by Phak Seangly