Man who stole cash, jewelry from neighbor nabbed in Rizal

A 23-year-old suspect was arrested after stealing cash and jewelry worth P13,000 from his neighbor in Baras, Rizal. 

According to a report on "Unang Balita" by EJ Gomez, while the stolen jewelry was recovered, the suspect admitted to using the stolen cash for gambling.

The incident occurred on March 22 and was captured by the homeowner’s CCTV camera, where the footage showed the suspect entering the house, which was unoccupied at the time. 

The suspect took P10,000 in cash and jewelry valued at P3,000. 

The victim later discovered that their bag had been rummaged through and that the CCTV camera had been dismantled, though it had already captured footage of the intruder.

Using the CCTV footage, authorities quickly identified the suspect. The next morning, police found him at a computer shop, where he frequently spent time playing games, and the officers arrested him on the spot.

During questioning, the suspect confessed that he had already spent the stolen cash on gambling. However, he led the police to where he had hidden the stolen jewelry, which was found wrapped in a cloth.

Investigators revealed that the suspect is a neighbor of the victim and has been previously involved in multiple criminal activities. Residents reported that he was part of a group known for engaging in theft, including store break-ins. Some of his former accomplices had already been arrested and jailed.

The suspect also admitted to having been previously imprisoned due to drug-related offenses. He claimed that he committed the robbery out of desperation after noticing that the house’s door was left unlocked.

The suspect is now facing robbery charges and is currently detained at the Baras Police Custodial Facility. Authorities continue to investigate any potential links to other crimes in the area.—Sherylin Untalan/LDF, GMA Integrated News