Man falls for stealing neighbor's motorcycle

CEBU, Philippines - A man was arrested after he was caught in the act of stealing his neighbor's motorcycle parked in front of the owner's store along UN Avenue in Barangay Umapad, Mandaue City.

The incident happened dawn last Monday. The suspect was identified as Carlos Alilin while the owner of the motorcycle was identified as Juanito Montebon,61.

PO2 Eleazar Llanes of the Opao Police Station said that at around 1am last Monday, Montebon was about to transfer his motorcycle to his compound when Alilin who was drinking at his karaoke joint reportedly told him to just leave the motorcycle and that he would watch over the vehicle.

"Natingala ang tag-iya nga first time daw to nga mi-ingon iyang silingan nga ayaw lang i-sud kay kami ray bantay ana,ug mao puy iyang gibuhat," Llanes said.

When he was taking a nap at the karaoke joint around 3am, Montebon reportedly heard an engine start and when he verified, he reportedly saw Alilin and another man board his motorcycle and speed off. 

Montebon waited for Alilin to return to no avail. Alilin was arrested several hours later at his house. At the police station, Alilin reportedly kept mum and refused to say where the motorcycle is.

Llanes said Alilin is involved in several petty crimes in the barangay and is also an alleged illegal drug user. He is currently detained at the Opao police station pending the formal filing of a carnapping case against him. - THE FREEMAN