Woman, son nabbed for P.2-million computer theft

MANILA, Philippines - A 69-year-old woman and her son were arrested for possessing P200,000 worth of computer units believed to have been stolen from a computer shop along Maysan Road in Valenzuela City the other day, police said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Rainer Idio, Valenzuela City police chief, said shop owner Ryan Geroch told investigators that prior to the heist, he was approached on several occasions by occupants of a green Toyota Revo (WGL-202). The last time was on May 22, when a man asked him whether he has a photocopy machine, scanner and computers in his shop, Geroch said.

Land Transportation Office records show the vehicle is owned by Clemencia Fajardo, a resident of Bernardino Subdivision, also in Valenzuela, Idio said.

Police officers caught Fajardo’s son, Arnold Gomez, reportedly unloading two computers from the Revo. The computers were later identified by Geroch as among those stolen from his computer shop.

Fajardo was arrested when she claimed ownership of the stolen computers following her son’s arrest.

Idio said Fajardo and her son are currently being subjected to tactical interrogation to determine if they participated in other robberies, particularly those wherein the establishments had been broken into using bolt cutters, as Geroch’s shop had been.