3 nabbed for stealing electric wires at Baywalk

Three persons were nabbed while in the act of stealing the underground cable wires of street lights at the Baywalk area along Roxas Boulevard in Ermita, Manila early morning yesterday.

Ermita police station chief Superintendent Rogelio Rosales Jr. identified the suspects as Albert Cula, 18, of Pila, Laguna; Frederick Simon, 21, of Pasay City; and Jojo Bernabe, 22, without permanent address.

Seized from the suspects were some 20 meters of electric wires estimated to be worth P15,000, according to Rosales.

A heightened patrol of the Baywalk area was ordered by Rosales following reports of several thefts of underground electric cables and lights from lampposts along the area.

Policemen, led by Senior Inspector Arnold Thomas Ibay, were on reconnaissance along the Baywalk past 4 a.m. when they observed the suspects cutting and pulling the underground cables in the area. The supects were also seen placing their loot on a jute sack.

The suspects scampered upon seeing the approaching policemen leading to the arrest of Cula. At the police station, Cula led the cops to the hideout of his companions at the PICC compound on Roxas Boulevard leading to the arrest of the remaining suspects.

Manila’s City Engineer’s Office personnel said the amount of the repair to be done on the looted lampposts is more than the cost of the stolen wires.   — Nestor Etolle