Judge loses P.1 M to fitness gym janitor

Eastern Police District (EPD) police officers arrested yesterday a janitor of a fitness gym for allegedly stealing P160,000 worth of cash and personal belongings from a regular client.

But the suspect, Noel Cruz, denied robbing Marikina Judge Alex Quiroz but Superintendent Eduardo Villena, EPD’s District Investigation and Detective Management Division (DIDMD), said they have enough evidence against Cruz.

Villena said Quiroz worked out for one hour at the gym, which is in a Pasig City mall, last Saturday.

“While the good judge was depositing his Rolex watch, expensive cell phone and cash in the locker, until he left after taking a shower after an hour, it was only Cruz who was inside the room,” Villena said.

When Quiroz opened his locker with his issued key, his Rolex watch worth P120,000; P22,000 cell phone; and P20,000 was missing.

Quiroz reported the theft to the gym’s management, which promised to cooperate and make Cruz available for investigation.

Villena ordered Cruz’s arrest after a witness, Danilo Go, surfaced yesterday and identified him as the culprit.

According to Villena, the gym management also allowed them to view the footage taken by a surveillance camera, which showed that nobody entered the room occupied by Cruz and Quiroz.

Villena said several clients also complained that they also lost their belongings from their lockers but did not bother to file a formal complaint before the police.

“It seems that the lockers in the gym were opened by somebody holding a duplicate key. And being the janitor, Cruz is one of the duplicate key holders,” said Villena.