2 minors nabbed for ‘stealing’ P82T cash, P200T valuables

CEBU, Philippines - Two boys, aged 13 and 14, were nabbed by police for allegedly stealing the bag of a woman containing P82,000 cash and at least P200,000 worth of personal belongings while she was talking to a bank officer in her car.

Victim Enriquita “Kits” Albano, 39, owner of Jkits Security Agency, just withdrew money from a bank on Borromeo St. last Thursday.

The bank manager escorted her to her car and while on the driver’s seat, they continued discussing something.

She placed her Gucci bag worth P28,000 beside her but failed to lock the car door.

About 20 minutes after, she was about to leave when she noticed that her bag was missing.

She sought for help and a man in the area told her that a kid took her bag and hurriedly left the place.

Aside from her money, Albano said she lost her Galaxy tab worth P25,000, iPhone worth 39,000, LG mobile phone worth 17,000, PLDT mobile phone, and PO card worth P1,000.

She said the P82,000 cash was supposedly for her employees’ salary.

Theft and Robbery Section personnel led by Senior Insp. William Alicaba conducted a follow up operation and with the help of witnesses, they arrested the two boys while sleeping along N. Bacalso Avenue in Barangay Pahina-Central at 5 p.m. last Sunday.

They were brought to the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) headquarters and in front of the victim, the boys admitted to the crime.

They, however, pointed at each other when asked who is keeping the bag.

Albano asked the boys to return the important documents including a list of collectibles amounting to P1 million from people who brought branded bags from her.

The 13-year-old boy vehemently denied he knows where the bag is but revealed that he gave the money to a certain “Liza” who lives on  A. Lopez St.

Following his confession, Alicaba said they proceeded to A. Lopez St, but the boy retracted his statement and said their “leader” is already dead.

“Dako laging problema kay gahi patug-anon. Maru na kayo, 13 pa’y edad pero ang pang-hunahuna, 40 na,” Alicaba said.

He also lamented that because of the Juvenile Justice Law, they could not file charges against the suspects and the law is also abused by minors. — (FREEMAN)