Snatcher Steals Cellphone and Drains P50,000 From Open E-Wallet of Store Owner
A snatcher earned a huge amount of money after stealing a cellphone with an open e-wallet app and draining its P50,000 balance.
The suspect pretended to be an ordinary customer. At first, he asked to load P100, which made him appear harmless. After a short time, he returned to the store and requested a cash-in transaction for his e-wallet.
While the store owner was busy typing the details on her phone near the window of the shop, the man suddenly grabbed the cellphone from her hands. The suspect immediately ran away and escaped on a motorcycle.
The incident happened at a small store in Marikina and was captured on CCTV, showing how quickly the crime happened.
Because the e-wallet app was already open, he was able to withdraw the entire P50,000 within minutes. The store owner had no chance to stop him and was left shocked by how fast everything happened.
The victim, who depends on her small store for daily income, shared how painful the experience was. She said she was only trying to make an honest living and never expected to be targeted in such a way.
Later on, she learned that similar snatching incidents had also happened in their area, making her worry about the safety of other small business owners.
The incident was reported to the police and the telecom company to help block the phone and possibly track the suspect. Authorities are reminding the public to be extra careful when using e-wallets, especially in public places.
Keeping apps closed, setting up security features, and staying alert while dealing with customers can help prevent similar incidents. The victim also warned others to stay cautious and learn from what happened to her.
In a previous post, a snatcher caught after stealing student’s phone in Bacolod City
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