Man steals P50,000 from restaurant, found hiding in restroom

MANILA, Philippines - A man’s attempt to steal money from a Manila restaurant’s vault during the night failed after he was discovered hiding in one of the restroom cubicles by an employee who reported for work early Monday morning.

Police filed robbery charges yesterday against Ronnie Abet, 38, after he was caught with P50,970 and tools such as a hacksaw, hammer, chisel and stainless steel rod.

Police said Abet, who entered the Pinsec House restaurant in Sta. Cruz as a customer shortly before it closed for the night, hid in a restroom cubicle marked “for repair.”

When the restaurant closed, Abet destroyed the restaurant’s vault and took the money intended for the employees’ salaries, police said. He then returned to the cubicle to wait for the restaurant to open the next day for his escape.

However, dishwasher Arman Aribe reported for work early and discovered Abet in the cubicle, still holding the money and his tools.

Abet named restaurant employee Mark Gaces as his accomplice. Police later arrested Gaces and charged him with robbery.   – Nestor Etolle