CEBU, Philippines — Authorities have arrested seven suspected snatchers operating in the major cities of Cebu in an anti-criminality operation in Talisay City in a span of two weeks.
Lt. Colonel Randy Caballes, chief of Talisay City Police Station, said they arrested five alleged snatchers during a buy-bust operation while two were arrested during an armed person alarm.
"Nadakpan ni sila nga naay involvement sa illegal drugs and upon background check, involved sila sa mga snatching and salisi sa mga incidents sa Talisay and Cebu City," said Caballes.
With the arrest of these seven individuals, Caballes said this could have a huge impact in the snatching and stealing incidents around the Metro Cebu area.
Earlier reports said snatchers have been operating around Talisay City and its neighboring cities.
"Naa sad tay mga reported nga snatching, although we cannot use the term increasing number, naa la'y mga incidents, siguro naay mga 4 to 5 incidents for the last three weeks," said Caballes.
During the background checking, these arrested snatchers have been involved in the activities for the last few years. Some others were even operating for four to five years making them identified as notorious.
When interviewed, they revealed that some of them operate by pair.
"Mao ning mag-operate sila og Mandaue or Lapu-Lapu City," said Caballes.
Just recently, a massage therapist and minor cohort were nabbed in a buy-bust operation in Sitio Dawis, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.
The operation was conducted at 10 p.m. Saturday which resulted in the arrest of the female high-value individual in terms of illegal drug trading identified as certain Irish Neri, 30 years old.
During the operation, police also rescued a 17-year-old minor. Seized from them were more than a million worth of suspected shabu.
Police said Neri was previously arrested for the same offense and was released from jail around March of last year. — GMR (FREEMAN)