Five separate armed robbery attempts by unidentified men on motorbikes were reported in several districts on the outskirts of Phnom Penh Wednesday night, police said Thursday.
One gunman was killed by an angry mob in Chamkar Mon district after falling off the back of an accomplice’s getaway motorbike, police said.
Sar Bunna, 30, was killed after his accomplices fled, said Ouch Sokhon, Chamkar Mon deputy district police chief.
He and two other men arriving on two motorbikes reportedly threatened a woman but were thwarted when she jerked her arms up in fear, knocking away the gun, and began screaming, said Sen Botea, Boeung Trabek commune chief. The men tried to escape by motorbike, but Sar Bunna fell off and was beaten to death by a mob that arrived on the scene.
Sar Bunna was cremated in Wat Tuol Tumpong Thursday. The other gunmen remain at large, Sen Botea said.
Of the five attempted robberies, only two were successful, netting the robbers a couple of motorbikes.
Ly Lay, Russei Keo district police chief, said two successful robberies, as well as one failed attempt, occurred in his district but resulted in no injuries.
In Dangkao district, another attempted robbery failed when the victim broke off his key in the ignition and ran screaming for help, Dangkao district Police Chief Chup Sok Heng said.
Police said the five attempts were not linked.
