Mostcurious wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2023 6:58 pm To catch the criminal massage workers in the act maybe position a secret camera in your belongings...

We already have several videos of their entire process at several shops, from walk in to walk out, their whole act, with them talking, their faces, etc.

Inside the fake locker, front door closing, back or side door opening, their faces visible rummaging through stuff, them looking through a spy hole to the room, and a secret narrow passage to get to all of this secret stuff in some places, then items returned to the fake locker.

They say $3 massage one hour, but once they see there's little or nothing they want to (or can) steal, you hear them talking, then they end the crappy massage after only a few minutes, with the girl saying she has a headache, so no payment.
Checking wallet (which only had minimal riel notes in it to start with) before leaving the room, seeing some cash stolen, demanding its return, which they did - after arguing, then they go back to the room, lift up stuff as if it fell out of the wallet, then reaching under the bed and cash suddenly shows up in her hand, which she returns. (The notes were all marked, so we could easily verify any swapping, or if the original was returned.) US$ notes were not carried because we already knew what will happen with those.
All of this in a video.

Dodgy tuktuk drivers watching and waiting right nearby, ready to continue the hustle if they can, by offering their "help" - after an incident. (Instead they should simply be warning everyone to not go there as they see them walk in, since they already know what will happen... but they don't).

Bogus followup from "police" claiming that the girl who stole the cash ran away, or some nonsense... often the same lies - repeated all the way up by "police" at their main headquarters. Admission of guilt from shop operator but with no resolution, or only partial resolution.
Attempted assistance by "tourist police", "immigration police", or others, who suddenly go quiet - probably because they were threatened. Few honest people left who will speak up.

Most of the locals know about this scam. Some places put warning signs - unless they're right next door - funny that huh! Speak with the shops next door and ask how they feel, knowing that the shop right next to them is full of thieves, losing them business and ruining their reputation, as it is for all of Cambodia... duh!

There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that all of these shops are part of a thoroughly organized crime network, potentially run by, or at least (due to payoffs) ignored by, the so-called "police" (aka mafia, protection-racketeers, parasites... similarly all around the world)!

Stravaiger wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2023 10:59 am Just photograph them in action and post it on google reviews...

Tried this already.
For this reason, the shops (deliberately) have no listing in google maps. If you're able to create it, it will be deleted...
somehow... by someone... somewhere...

Fridaywithmateo wrote: ↑Tue Dec 19, 2023 11:09 pm Simple solution … never leave the house with anything you’re not able to part with.

Best never leave the house then!