Police recover stolen gadgets

CEBU, Philippines - A robbery suspect who allegedly stole P700,000 worth of valuables from a residential house last Friday was arrested by the police in a follow-up operation yesterday morning in sitio Hollow Block, barangay Lagtang, Talisay City.

The police in Talisay City recovered from Rodel Ecoña, 19, a resident of the place, an E95 cellular phone worth P5,000 and a Samsung Netbook amounting to P30,000, both owned by Teresita Smith of Santa Teresa 2, Ramona Village, barangay San Isidro.

Last Friday, Smith's house reported to the police that while she was away, somebody broke into her house and took pieces of jewelry, cash, and electronic gadgets worth more than P700,00.

Police also recovered from Econa an Ipod, one Sonny Ericson mobile phone, and two other phones, a GE and a Nokia.

SPO3 Daniel Tarucan, who was one of the arresting officers, said that this was not the first time that Ecoña was implicated in a crime.

Two years ago, Ecoña was arrested for robbery. He was still 17 then.

Tarucan said the group would loiter in subdivisions pretending to be scavengers carrying old sacks but actually are keeping an eye out for their next prey.

As of press time, Ecoña wouldn't tell whether he had accomplices.

He is now being detained pending the filing of a criminal case against him.  (FREEMAN)