Man steals P10k cash, jewelry from neighbor in Rizal

A man, who was arrested at a computer shop in Baras, Rizal, was the suspect who allegedly stole cash and jewelry from his neighbor.

According to a "24 Oras" report by EJ Gomez on Wednesday, CCTV footage of the incident showed the 23-year-old suspect stealing P10,000 cash and P3,000 worth of jewelry from his neighbor’s house on March 22.

The victim said there was no one home when the robbery occurred.

“Pagpunta ko doon sa bahay, nakita ko bukas na yung pinto. Nakita ko 'yung tatlong kuwarto na mga bukas na rin, sinira pa yung sa isang kuwarto... may padlock 'yun. Bukas yung mga aparador at nagkalat ang mga gamit, bukas na rin lahat 'yung bag. Tapos 'yung CCTV, tinanggal din. Nung mapansin ang CCTV, binaklas din, pero nakunan na siya,” said victim Amado Golla.

(When I arrived at the house, I saw that the door was open. I saw three rooms that were open as well, and the lock in one room was broken. The closets were open and the items inside were scattered. All the bags were open too. The CCTV was also removed. When he noticed the CCTV, it was removed too, but it already recorded him.)

The 23-year-old suspect was immediately identified and nabbed at a computer shop the next day.

The suspect was unable to return the cash as it was already used in gambling, but authorities were able to recover the stolen jewelry.

“Madali po nating na-identify yung suspek na yun at nung kinaumagahan na po nun is natiyempuhan po natin kung saan tumatambay na madalas ang ating suspek sa isang computer shop,” said Baras Police chief Police Major Robert Papa.

(We were able to identify the suspect easily, and we were able to catch him the next morning at a computer shop he frequented.)

The suspect, currently detained at the Baras Police Custodial Facility, had already been previously detained due to a case in connection with illegal drugs in 2020.

“Madami nang reklamo sa batang 'yan. Marami nang kinasasangkutan 'yan,” said Golla.

(That child already has a lot of complaints against him. He’s been involved in many things.)

“May mga grupo-grupo po sila ng kabataan na yan po ang inaano nila, minsan po tindahan, pero naaresto na rin po natin at naipakulong na yung ibang kasamahan niya,” added Papa.

(There are groups of youths that do that, sometimes to stores, but we arrest them immediately and have already detained his other colleagues.) — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News