MCWD pays P35T reward to cops and volunteers for arrest of water meter thief

The Metro Cebu Water District has recently paid P35,000 in cash rewards to two policemen and four anti-crime volunteers who arrested and eventually caused the conviction of a water meter thief.

The recipients of the cash reward were Mandaue City policemen, SPO1 Pedro Sucion and PO2 Rosendo Cabrera, and Centennial Force Foundation members Jonas Fat, Angelito Sampilo, Bonifacio Cabatingan and Roberto Miras.

While on patrol last January 21, the six caught Melvin Delima stealing two water meters in barangay Alang-Alang, Mandaue City.

During interrogation, Delima disclosed that he usually sells the stolen meters to a junk shop owner in barangay Umapad and, in his arraignment, he also pleaded guilty to the crime of theft and was subsequently imprisoned.

The police later raided the junk shop in Umapad where they also found and seized 16 MCWD water meters. The shop owner was also arrested and indicted for violation of the anti-fencing law.

The MCWD said the giving of cash rewards to people who reported and helped apprehend thefts is a way of encouraging others to do similar actions to stop water meter thievery.

MCWD officials have warned thieves who prey on MCWD water meters, and those who buy these stolen items would be sent to jail once caught.

Since MCWD started its campaign against water meter thievery last year, it had already arrested and convicted five thieves, and had indicted five more whose cases are yet pending in various municipal trial courts.

MCWD said that water meter thievery has become a common crime because meters are usually located in conspicuous places and are quite pricey at P1,000 per unit in the "market" of stolen goods.

The water district has offered a minimum reward of P25,000 to informants who lead to the arrest of a "fence" and a minimum of P10,000 to informants whose tips lead to the arrest of an "asset" of a fence.

A fence is the person who sells, buys, receives, possesses, acquires and conceals a stolen water meter.

On the other hand, an asset is one who without authority takes away, removes or transfers any water meter from its place of installation, or from any site where it may be lawfully deposited, stocked, inventoried, and situated-for purpose of profit and gain. - Wenna A. Berondo