Two wire thieves arrested

Two men were arrested for stealing assorted copper wire yesterday morning inside the premises of a housing project of the National Housing Authority in Malabon City.

Police Officer 3 Bobby Mario Egera, the officer-on-case, said a team of officers from Police Community Precinct 5, led by Inspector Damian Santuyo, arrested Orlando Jamorawon, 37, and Josefino Andres, 40, both of Sto. Niño Street in Barangay Concepcion.

Seized from the suspects were assorted copper wire intended to be sold to scrap metal dealers. The amount of the stolen copper wire is yet to be determined, the police said.

Prior to the arrest, the Malabon city hall has been receiving complaints about rampant pilferage of supplies and materials inside the housing compound, owned previously by the NHA and now by the city government.

Acting on the reports, the team was formed to patrol the premises.

According to the police, the theft occurred at around 9:45 a.m. inside the housing project in Barangay Baritan.

The arresting officers eventually sighted the two, who managed to flee but were later caught while burning the wire insulation prior to selling them to the junkshop. — Jerry Botial