Male Thief Caught After Allegedly Stealing Over P5,000 Worth of Cigarettes & Chocolates
A male thief was arrested after allegedly stealing more than P5,000 worth of cigarettes and chocolates in Rodriguez, Rizal.
Rodriguez Police chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Paul Sabulao reported that a 21-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly broke into a convenience store and stole cigarettes and chocolates in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.
Based on the report, CCTV footage showed the man inside the store, initially looking like a regular customer. But it turned out the store was already closed during that time, and he had secretly entered through the ceiling in the early hours of the morning.
“Lumusot ito sa kisame ng madaling araw. ‘Yung empleyado ng isang convenience store, noong pumasok daw sila roon sa kanilang convenience store, ay nakita nila na lang na kalat-kalat ‘yung mga paninda nila,” Sabulao said.
The theft was discovered by store employees when they arrived and found the items scattered and shelves disturbed. It was clear that someone had broken in and taken several items, mostly cigarettes and chocolates.
Police later found out that the stolen goods were sold by the suspect to nearby stores in the area. Thanks to a witness and the help of CCTV backtracking, authorities were able to locate and arrest the man near his home in the same barangay.
Some of the stolen items were recovered, though many were already missing or incomplete. According to the police, the man had previous complaints filed against him at the barangay level, also related to theft.
Despite the evidence, the suspect denied the allegations and said he would speak only in court. He claimed nothing was taken from him during his arrest. “Wala po, hindi po totoo ‘yan. Sa korte na lang po ako magsasalita. Wala pong nakuha sa akin,” the suspect said.
A robbery case has already been filed against him, and he is now being held at the Rodriguez Municipal Police Station’s custodial facility.
The police remind store owners and residents to stay alert, especially during off-hours, and to report any suspicious activity in their communities.
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