Ex-cop nabbed for botched tire theft

MANILA, Philippines - A former policeman was arrested yesterday for a botched attempt to steal a vehicle’s spare tire at a mall in Quezon City Wednesday.

Nomer Pacheco was apprehended along with Richard Fontanilla, who had left behind his driver’s license when they fled after the incident at Robinson’s Magnolia mall along Hemady street, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Senior Superintendent Richard Albano.

Albano said witnesses identified Pacheco and Fontanilla as the ones who stole the spare tire of a vehicle at the mall’s parking space.

Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, QCPD deputy director for administration, said Pacheco was a former policeman assigned with the Southern Police District.

“Both of them (Pacheco and Fontanilla) were arrested in Tondo,” Pagdilao said in an interview.

QCPD Station 7 commander Superintendent Ronnie Montejo said Pacheco, who held the rank of Police Officer 2, had gone AWOL (absent without official leave) in 2006.

According to Pagdilao, Pacheco was traced based on a Mitsubishi Adventure that he and his companion left behind along N. Domingo street after they fled from the mall.

Pagdilao said Pacheco was a friend of Armando Saludares, whose sister is the registered owned of the Adventure. When policemen traced Saludares, he said Pacheco had borrowed the vehicle for a supposed out-of-town trip.

“I didn’t know he was going to use it in a crime,” Saludares said.

‘Rattled’

Albano said the two suspects slipped into the parking space of the mall and stole the spare tire of a parked Ford Ranger. The car’s owner caught them in the act and called the attention of the mall guard.

The suspects shot the guard as they fled, but failed to hit him. Montejo said the guard shot back and hit the tires of the Adventure.

Montejo said the suspects forced the vehicle to run until it bumped into another vehicle along N. Domingo street.

The suspects then had to abandon the vehicle with flat tires but Fontanilla was so “rattled” that he left behind his driver’s license inside the Adventure, Montejo said. Pagdilao said the suspects also left behind their loot – the Ford Ranger’s spare tire.

Albano also noted that the suspects were so unfortunate that there was a surveillance camera outside a hardware store situated right at the spot where they abandoned their vehicle.

He said the two arrested suspects are facing charges of robbery.