A resident jogging along the dike road in Barangay Palua, Mangaldan, Pangasinan returned to find the window of his parked vehicle shattered.

The victim reportedly left his vehicle on a portion of the dike that residents say remains dark despite the presence of solar lights. When he came back at past 7 p.m., he discovered the window had been broken, prompting him to alert barangay officials.

“Actually, ang pagkakaalam ko doon, siguro naglagay siya ng bato tapos damit doon sa kamay niya para hindi tutunog. Kasi pag binato mo, tutunog ‘yung pagkabasag,” Constant Lagrada, barangay councilman of Barangay Palua, said.

Barangay watchmen conducted roving patrols shortly after but failed to find the suspect.

Around ₱5,000 in cash was stolen from the vehicle, but the thief did not take the mobile phone and other gadgets that were left inside. Police said the incident was not reported to their station at the time it happened.

“Hindi po ito naireport sa amin. Kaya po nag-dispatch kami ng mga personnel sa lugar,” P/Lt. Col. Perlito Tuayon, Mangaldan chief of police, said.

“Pinapaalala po natin na sana po mga ganung insidente ay ipaabot po natin sa kapulisan.”

Investigators are now pursuing a suspect based on information from a witness.

“Noong nalaman po natin ‘yun, may lead suspect na po tayong sinusundan. At sa ngayon po hinahanap po natin siya… According sa witness, may nakita nga po siya sa lugar na ‘yon,” Tuayon added.

Authorities urged motorists to secure their vehicles and park them only in well-lit and populated areas to avoid similar incidents.