Burglary victims get back stolen items

CEBU, Philippines - More items which were reportedly stolen by a subcontractor employee of a condominium tower at Cebu IT Park were recovered and turned over to victims.

Joel Garcia, 40, who was employed as a painter of the condominium building for two years, was arrested after he was caught last Friday stealing items owned by Aprille Mae Borja, a 27-year-old call center agent and one of the unit owners in the condominium building.

The security personnel of the condominium tower turned over Garcia to the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office.

 Garcia reportedly confessed to the CIB operatives that he had also robbed another condo unit occupied by Virgilio del Prado on January 19.

 Using the same scheme of opening the door, Garcia admitted taking away the victim’s cash, jewelry and other valuables estimated at P1 million.

The police were able to confiscate from Garcia the items he had allegedly stolen from Borja. They also seized one Akribos wristwatch, two Michael Kors wristwatches, one iPhone 5, one video camera and assorted fashion accessories reportedly belonging to the Del Prado family. The items were properly turned over to the victims.

Five small packs of suspected shabu were recovered from Garcia.

It was last January 20 when Del Prado, an American national, reported the burglary incident to the Mabolo Police Station.

Del Prado told the police that they left their unit with all of its windows and doors locked around 11 a.m. of January 19 to celebrate the Sinulog Festival.

When they returned home around 5 p.m., they noticed that their personal belongings had been moved and their personal items were found missing.

Another resident of the condo building, Adeline Radaza, also reported that her diamond bracelet worth $8,000, Sony camera worth $400, one pair of gold earrings worth $250, and P68,000 cash were also stolen.

Garcia also reportedly stole more than P60,000 worth of cash and valuables from Borja.

Borja was sleeping at the time of the robbery incident. Garcia allegedly forced open Borja’s room using two identification cards to slide through the locked door.

Just when Garcia was about to leave the room after he stole the properties of Borja, her phone rang, which prompted her to wake up and saw Garcia hurriedly going out.

 Borja chased Garcia and confronted him at the lobby. Garcia reportedly returned the phone and other items of the victim. Garcia attempted to escape but was seen by security guard Roty Caylan and building engineer Randy Labiste.

A brief chase ensued but the suspect was cornered by the company staff and was brought to the security office.

 It was found out that Garcia was supposed to be off-duty at that time but managed to sneak into the building.

Garcia admitted that he used identification cards to enter locked rooms.

“Dali ra man maablihan basta luag ang lock. Imo ra i-slide ang card sa door lock, moabli ra na siya,” he said.

He shared that he used to sleep in the unit of del Prado since he was still working on the room. He added that he was even surprised to see the things of the victims inside last January 19.

“Ara ra man ko tigkatulgan sa iyang unit. Tulo na ka beses. Nahibong ko anang adlawa nga naa na ilang butang,” he said.

He, however, confessed that he got tempted upon seeing the cash and other valuables of the del Prados and stole them. He said he was suffering from financial problems after he got separated from his wife.

He told the media that he stole P50,000 cash and sold the wristwatches at P1,500 each. Some of the items, he added, were sold in Carbon and Duljo Fatima.

He also admitted using illegal drugs.

Cebu City Police Office officer-in-charge Senior Superintendent Capa said that the security agency of the condominium tower has to answer the lapses they have committed after two burglary incidents were committed by the same person in a span of two weeks.

There was also no closed circuit television camera installed in the condominium tower.

 “There must be something wrong sa ilang security. The security agency has to answer on this,” he said.

Fiscal Rogelio del Prado of the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office, who is a relative of the del Prados, said that they are eyeing to possibly file civil charges against the security agency and the management.

“When the first burglary incident happened, we advised them to install CCTVs. Had they done that, the second incident could have been prevented,” he said.

He added that those who bought the stolen items will also be held liable especially if they had knowledge of the crime since the items were sold at cheaper prices a person with questionable character. — (FREEMAN)