Shop Robbed at Gunpoint; Suspects Still at Large

Police in Tbong Khmum province are hunting a gang of armed men who robbed a shop at gunpoint over the weekend, making off with tens of thousands of dollars worth of cash and jewelry.

At least four suspects wielding handguns and an AK-47 assault rifle robbed the construction-supply store and Wing mobile payment kiosk in O’Reang-ou district’s Kong Chey commune at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, according to commune police chief Mol Soeun.

The store’s owners, who live on the premises, were having dinner and watching television when the four burst into the building, Mr. Soeun said.

“The robbers pointed guns at the victims,” he said, adding that the intruders then used a hammer to break open a safe.

No one was injured.

Deputy provincial police chief Prak Bunnon, who is leading the investigation into the heist, said the victims included well-known local businessman Srei Sophal, 49, and his wife Suy Vanny, 38.

He said the robbers stole $30,000 worth of riel and U.S. notes, as well as 1 damlung of gold and 3 damlung of platinum worth a combined $5,000.

“After investigating, we identified two of the four suspects,” he said, explaining that the men were known criminals but declining to identify them.

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