Authorities Arrest Man for Stealing Cellphone While Pretending to Be a Customer
A man was arrested after allegedly stealing a cellphone from a gadget store in Manila, while pretending to be a customer.
On Friday morning (June 14, 2025), a 28-year-old man was arrested after stealing a cellphone from a gadget shop along Blumentritt Road in Sta. Cruz, Manila. The suspect pretended to be a customer to trick the shop owner.
According to PMaj. Patrick Rodriguez of the Manila Police District Sta. Cruz Station, the suspect approached the store and acted like he wanted to buy a cellphone. As another customer came in, the suspect took the opportunity to grab a phone worth P5,500 and ran away.
“Habang nagbebenta po ng gadget yung biktima, lumapit po itong suspek natin para bumili ng cellphone. At nung merong lumapit na isang lalaki para bumili ng cellphone, doon siya nakakuha ng pagkakataon para tumakbo at kunin yung binebentang cellphone,” Rodriguez said.
The victim immediately called for help upon realizing the phone was taken. CCTV footage showed three men running along Blumentritt Road, being chased by patrolling police officers on a motorcycle.
The suspect was finally cornered along P. Guevarra Street with the help of police and concerned citizens. Upon arrest, he admitted to stealing the phone but claimed it was his first time doing such a thing.
He said he only did it because he needed money for transportation, and he planned to return home to Tarlac.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect had possibly committed similar crimes in the past using the same method. He would pretend to check phones at different gadget shops and then run off with them when no one was watching closely.
“Nagnanakaw siya sa iba’t ibang lugar pero hindi siya nahuhuli… yung modus niya na kunwari tinitignan niya yung cellphone sa tindahan, sa mga cellphone shop and then pag nakakuha siya ng pagkakataon ay itatakbo niya or itatago niya sa bulsa niya,” he explained.
The suspect is now under the custody of the Sta. Cruz Police Station and will be facing charges for robbery and snatching.
In another incident, a thief climbs roof & pretends to be mentally ill when caught
The social media users expressed their reactions to the incident:
