Four suspects, including an 11-year-old boy were arrested after stealing valuables from an unlocked SUV owned by a 67-year-old senior citizen who had parked outside a grocery store in Silang, Cavite.
CCTV footage captured one of the suspects crossing the highway toward the parked SUV in Barangay Biga II.
After confirming no one was watching, the suspect quickly opened the door of the unlocked vehicle and stole an expensive bag and a cellphone.
A witness told police that the suspect fled on a waiting motorcycle, while two other accomplices were riding another motorcycle nearby.
“So pagka kuha noong unang riding in tandem ng bag, ang ginawa naman nila, ipinasa doon sa isang motorsiklo na riding in tandem din. So ibig sabihin, apat ang suspect natin” said PLt. Col. Joseph Macatangay, chief of the Silang Municipal Police Station.
Police immediately launched a hot pursuit operation, triggering a chase after the suspects were spotted fleeing on motorcycles.
Two suspects were arrested in Barangay Tubuan II, while the remaining two were captured in Barangay Buho.
Authorities recovered the victim’s stolen belongings and seized an unlicensed .38-caliber revolver from one of the suspects.
According to Macatangay, all four suspects are residents of Las Piñas City. Investigators also recovered a cellphone containing a group chat allegedly used to coordinate the group’s criminal activities.
“Ang kanilang area of operation ay tumatawid sila ng Laguna, Cavite at abut sila hanggang Batangas province, ” Macatangay said.
The 11-year-old boy was later released after authorities confirmed his age. The minor was turned over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of Silang before being released to the child’s mother.
“So na-establish natin na menor de edad siya. Turn over namin sa MSWDO ng Silang and then doon na kinuha noong nanay niya. Hindi siya kinasuhan. Exempted sa criminal liability, 11 years old,” Macatangay added.
The three adult suspects are facing theft charges, while one of them also faces a separate charge for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act after police recovered an unlicensed firearm during the operation.