Citom enforcer arrests snatcher

A traffic enforcer chased and caught a man who snatched a necklace from a Korean woman outside the Luym building on Plaridel Street Friday afternoon.

Julito Balgado, of the City Traffic Operations Management, happened to pass by the place when he saw the snatcher running away after grabbing the piece of jewelry from the Korean’s possession.

Balgado gave chase and caught up with the snatcher along Juan Luna Street. He recovered the stolen necklace and seized a seven-inch knife from the suspect, who was later identified as Ricky Gargolis.

The 23-year-old suspect is a native of Jimlalud in Negros Oriental and has been residing in a place near the Taboan Public Market. He is now detained at the Waterfront Police Station while waiting for his indictment.

Police report said the victim was Kim Ji Eun, a native of Seoul, South Korea who has been renting a place in the Luym building with her compatriot Han Shin Hye.

Kim and Han were conversing outside the building when Gargolis suddenly snatched Kim’s 18k gold necklace, with a diamond-studded crucifix pendant, worth P17,500.

Kim tried to resist but the snatcher succeeded in running away with the necklace. — Flor Z. Perolina/RAE