Theft suspect arrested due to swift police response
BAGUIO CITY – A 38-year old woman was arrested by combined police personnel after she allegedly stole the wallet of a 30-year old driver whom he earlier offered for a massage at the I-shaped overpass along Magsaysay Avenue early Monday morning.
Police Col. Ruel D. Tagel, City Director of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), said that the successful arrest of the suspect was a product of swift response by the police personnel following the complaint from the victim.
Earlier, a 30-year old driver from La Trinidad, Benguet fell victim to theft after meeting a 38-year old woman who offered him a massage and discretely stole the former’s wallet from his sling bag.
Upon noticing his missing wallet, the victim confronted the suspect who denied the said accusation that she got his wallet.
The commotion between the victim and the suspect alerted the police officer on routine patrol and immediately intervened to recover the reported stolen wallet of the victim.
The wallet containing P910 in cash, a driver’s license, national ID, barangay ID, assorted photographs, cedula, TIN ID and several receipts which were all positively identified by the victim as his personal belongings was recovered from the suspect’s possession.
Tagel emphasized that the incident highlights the crucial role of police visibility and proactive patrolling in deterring crimes and maintaining public safety citywide aside from the fact that it is the commitment of the police to one of the key pillars of the swift and responsive service of PNP chief Gen. Nicolas D Torre III.
He advised the public to remain vigilant and alert to avoid falling victims to the various types of schemes to victimize people and unjustly take away their personal belongings.
Tagel commended the swift action of the police officer whose vigilance and dedication to duty resulted to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the stolen property from her possession, which clearly reflects the effectiveness of the BCPO’s intensified anti-criminality operations and their firm commitment to building a safer, crime-free city. – Dexter A. See
