Just past midnight on the 19th, quiet settled over the Star Bay condo in Sihanoukville’s Sangkat 3—until three Chinese men forced their way into a resident’s room. The intruders pinned down the victim, used force, and demanded banking passwords. Left with no choice, the victim surrendered the codes. The robbers quickly drained accounts across Wing, ABA, and ACLEDA, transferring out a total of $5,250. They grabbed a smartphone on their way out and vanished into the night.
Once the report came in, Sihanoukville city police teamed up with provincial penal officers to hunt down the gang overnight, tracing the money trail and following fresh leads. By the 20th, police trapped the group and arrested four Chinese nationals. Investigators found that three of them directly carried out the violent robbery, while the fourth supplied the bank account used to receive the stolen money. Officers seized six mobile phones as evidence.
All four suspects are currently detained at the Sihanoukville City Police Station for further questioning and legal proceedings. In Sihanoukville, where condo lobbies see a steady trickle of PassApps and delivery bikes deep into the night and hallway neighbors rarely know each other, news like this spreads fast. Hardworking expats, night-shift workers, and small restaurant owners who grind for every dollar despise seeing people preyed on in the dark. It is a grim reminder to keep your mobile banking passcodes locked down tight, and always watch who is knocking at your door late at night.
