Burglars sneaked inside the principal’s office of a school in Dalaguete town, southern Cebu Province and carted away gadgets worth over P140,000.
The perpetrators who are of minor ages took away gadgets from Cawayan Elementary School past 6 a.m. on May 14, 2024.
The burglars went inside the principal’s office through the comfort room and took 13 tablets, three laptops, and three PC tablets that are all government-issued gadgets, including grocery items.
The loot is said to be worth P143,000, police said.
According to the officer in charge of the Dalaguete Police Station, a person witnessed the incident but is wary of his own security if he accosted the minors. He decided to wait for daybreak to have the incident reported to the authorities.
“Naka-witness gyud sya pag-entry ug pag-exit, pero wala lang niya gi-accost personally kay hadlok pud sya kay kaila siya anang mga batan-on, kay frequent na gyud makit-an niya, wala lang pud sya for iyang security, iya lang gipaabot nga maka-buntag,” Police Major Kenneth Paul Albotra, officer in charge of Dalaguete Municipal Police Station, said.
Four youngsters, ages 15 years old to 17 years old, were tracked down for questioning. They were taken under police custody at past 5 p.m. on that same day.
All of the stolen items were recovered. Other stolen items were found hidden in thickets near the school.
Under Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, children in conflict with the law (CICL) can be charged once a social worker issues a certification on determination of discernment in committing a crime.
“Sa atong balaud nga RA 9344 Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act kanang mga CICL nag-edad og 15, 16, 17, pwede sila ma-file-lan after sa determination of discernment kay i-certify sa social worker sa local DSWD, pwede ra gyud sila file-lan og kaso, in fact giandam karon ang mga documents,” Albotra said.
Dalaguete Police established that the suspects have past involvements in burglary or theft.
Police are set to file robbery charges against the four suspects.
