Guard charged for stealing gadgets

CEBU, Philippines – A security guard was charged for theft before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for allegedly stealing a digital camera and a portable media player, particularly an MP4, in one of the popular gadget stores he was tasked to guard.

Alfie Avenido was charged with theft after he was caught concealing in his bag a Sony Cybershot camera worth P31,000 and an MP4 player worth P7,299 which were discovered in his possession after a routine inspection.

According to Rhona Liz Quijano and Nilo Flores, the cashier and assistant officer in charge, respectively, of the Sony Center in Ayala Center-Cebu, they were conducting a routine inspection on the personnel on duty, including the security guard of their store, when they found the said items inside the bag of Avenido.

When Avenido was told to produce a proof of purchase of the said items, he failed to do so.

Avenido was arrested by the responding security guards of the said mall.

Charges for qualified theft was filed before the city prosecutor’s office, but prosecutor Jesus Feliciano downgraded the charges to theft because it was found out that the security guard is not an employee of the company.   

Avenido is employed under the Cherubim Security Agency. —Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV  (THE FREEMAN)