Police Detain 2 Suspects for Snatching a Bag at Choam Chao Flyover
Pen Srey Neat
November 18, 2022

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): Authorities said that on November 18, 2022, at 7:10am, there was a case of aggravated theft from a woman who had her bag snatched while riding a motorcycle on the road at the Chom Chao Phum flyover in Sangkat Choam Chao 3, Khan Por Senchey, Phnom Penh.The woman was set on by a gang of youths on motorbikes. The items in the stolen bag include 1 gold bracelet, 1 gold ring, 1 pair of platinum earrings and 600,000 Riels.

About 12 suspects were riding 6 motorcycles, including 3 SUZUKI NEX motorcycles, 2 125cc motorcycles and 1 Scoopy I motorcycle, and after the incident, people on the streets took pictures of 2 of the 125cc motorcycles, with license plates Phnom Penh 1JT-8029 and Phnom Penh 1II-4208, and reported this to the authorities.

Then, at around 9:10 a.m. on the same day (about 2 hours after the incident took place), a team from the Bureau of Minor Offenses and the Criminal Forces of Po Sen Chey District found the motorcycles from the photos and arrested 2 people.

After questioning the two suspects, they admitted that they and about 10 other accomplices snatched the bag from the woman and sold the jewelry at Toul Pong Market for $ 1,300. The gang divided up the loot, each getting $100 per person.

Currently, officers continue to search for the additional accomplices, and have sent the two original suspects to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
- CEN

UPDATE

The two suspects under arrest for the bag-snatching were identified as:
1. Hean Sokheng, Male, 18 years old, Nationality: Khmer,
2-Name: Prak Sok Serey, Male, 18 years old, Nationality: Khmer,
Both youths have no job, except for crime, and they both live in a rented room in Por Senchey in Phnom Penh.
The woman victim recovered her bag and her jewellery.

Another gang of bag-snatching youths has been arrested in Kandal:
Bag-Snatch Gang Arrested in Kandal

Cambodia News, (Kandal province): On November 15, 2022 at 9:05am, two local women on motorbikes were victims of a bag-snatching gang as they left the premises of Virak Buntham Transport in Ang Snoul district, Kandal province. Fortunately, they were not injured.

Two female victims, who filed complaints with the police, are:
1-Name: Sou Channy, Female, 23 years old, Nationality Khmer, Ang Snoul district, Kandal province
2-Name: Chheng Kimly, Female, 30 years old, Nationality: Khmer, Ang Snoul District, Kandal Province


Police officers, who were on the lookout for the gang, spotted some of the suspects while out on patrol on National Road 4, two days later, and they arrested three out of seven suspects, because the other members of the gang managed to get away.
7 male suspects arrested 3 male suspects (November 17, 2022):
1. Name: Sok Dy, alias Chea, Male, 21 years old, Nationality: Khmer, Occupation: Uncertain, Residence: Sangkat Tonle Bassac, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh.
2-Name: Chea Sovann, alias Na, Male, 17 years old, Nationality: Khmer, Uncertain occupation, Residence: Phum Toul Sangke, Sangkat Toul Sangke, Khan Russey Keo, Phnom Penh.
3-Name: Prak Vutharith, alias Pet, Male, 22 years old, Nationality: Khmer, Occupation: Uncertain, Residence: Sangkat Kraing Thnong, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh.
4-Name: Chhada, Male, About 20 years old, False Occupation, Residence in Borey Vatina, Sangkat Kraing Thnong, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh (Owner of Silver Motorcycle 2022)
5-Name: Chit, Male, 23 years old, False Occupation, Living in a rented house, Prey Khla Village, Sangkat Kraing Thnong, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh (Fleeing).
6-Name: Hab, Male, about 22 years old, False Occupation, Living in a rented house, Prey Khla Village, Sangkat Kraing Thnong, Khan Sen Sok, Phnom Penh (Owner of C125 motorcycle, 2022), escaped.
7-Name is Reach, male, about 24 years old, false occupation, living around Kamko City roundabout, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh (escaped).

The three suspects under arrest for the crime have confessed that they stole bags from the two women, but they said that the stolen goods were already sold, and the money was gone. They also admiitted to other bag-snatchings in Kampong Speu and in Phnom Penh. Police are still searching for the escaped gang members.

UPDATE
Cambodia News, Phnom Cenh: Another member of the gang of youths who snatched a bag from Chrun Srey Nga, a 28-year-old Cambodian woman, has been taken into custody by police. The victim was attacked by at least 12 youths at the Choam Chao roundabout at around 7am on 18 November.

On November 22, 2022, at 16:30, the Bureau of Investigation arrested a suspect named Svay Ratana, alias Rath, at the point of Street 253, Khan Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, as an accomplice of Hean Sokheng and Prak Sok Serey (who are under arrest) in the robbery committed against the above victim on18 November.
More youths from the robber gang, all aged about 18 years of age, have been identified by name and are being sought by police. Unfortunately, most of their motorbikes did not have license plates.