Authorities Recovered 154 Stolen Cellphones After Sinulog Festival in Cebu
Police authorities in Cebu City were able to recover 154 stolen cellphones following the popular Sinulog Festival.
The recovery of stolen mobile phones brought relief to many victims who lost their devices during the busy celebration. A total of 154 cellphones believed to be stolen were found during an operation conducted by the Cebu City Police Office.
The recovery started after four residents asked for police assistance when their phones went missing during the Sinulog Festival. According to the victims, their devices suddenly went offline or could no longer be located shortly after the event.
With the help of the tracking or find me feature installed on the phones, police were able to trace the signal to a cellphone repair shop located along Leon Kilat Street in Cebu City.
When officers checked the shop, which was also reportedly selling secondhand gadgets, they discovered something alarming. On the second floor of the establishment, police found four backpacks filled with mobile phones.
Among the devices were the phones reported missing by the four complainants. The number of recovered items suggested that many festivalgoers may have fallen victim to theft.
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A man believed to be the owner of the shop was arrested for allegedly violating the Anti-Fencing Law, which covers the selling or possession of stolen goods. Authorities said the suspect is now facing charges as the investigation continues.
Police also shared that some of the recovered phones may not have been stolen only during the Sinulog Festival itself. There is a possibility that several devices were taken days before the event and later gathered for resale.
Police encouraged festival attendees and commuters to secure their belongings and make use of safety features on their devices. Thanks to quick reporting and technology, authorities were able to act fast.
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