Driver charged for stealing spare tires

CEBU, Philippines - A construction company driver has been charged with four counts of qualified theft before the Regional Trial Court yesterday for allegedly stealing spare tires from the mixer truck.

Richard Baliad was charged after he was caught reportedly stealing four spare tires costing P11,500 each. A P30,000 bail was recommended for his temporary liberty.

Baliad’s employer, Vergel Luis Regner, said he received reports of Baliad’s illegal activities sometime in November 2008.

Regner said in his affidavit said that he followed Baliad and found out that Baliad had been stealing spare tires of the mixer truck he was driving. Baliad reportedly sold it to a vulcanizing shop at the reclamation area.

Regner said he saw Baliad alighting from the mixer truck and taking away the spare tire near the driver’s seat and sold it to a man at the shop.

Regner alleged that he saw Baliad selling more spare tires at the shop. He, however, did not ask the owner of the vulcanizing shop how much were the tires sold to them.

Baliad’s illegal activities were stopped only when Regner reported it to the board of trustees of their company.

Baliad has been fired from work and is now detained at the Mabolo Police Station. – Jasmin R. Uy/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)