Police identified the suspect as Lester Trocio, 24, a resident of Don Pedro Cui Street, barangay San Antonio, who was arrested while having a drinking session with his friends in the said market.
Trocio was suspected of stealing from a house along Faithful Street, barangay Hipodromo, after Joan Galanza, 31, reported the incident to the Parian police station.
Galanza told the police that her Aiwa Stereo Cassette worth P5,000 was stolen by the suspect while she was doing something else in their house.
In the follow-up operation conducted by the TRS led by Insp. Michael Anthony Bastes, Trocio was spotted inside the said market by their informers.
Trocio did not resist arrest when he was apprehended and PO1 Roxam Enerio found a pack of suspected shabu in one of his pockets when he frisked him.
Trocio admitted stealing the said item and said he pawned it to a certain Myrna Ramos of barangay Kamagayan for P1,000. The TRS recovered the said item from Ramos after the suspect took them to her.
Bastes said they could not arrest Ramos for accepting stolen items because they have no warrant of arrest against her and can only do that if Trocio will execute affidavit against her so that they can file a case of violating the Anti-Fencing Law.
Bastes added that at least five more complainants identified the suspect whom they believe also stole from their houses and are willing to execute affidavits against him today for possible filing of charges. - Edwin Ian Melecio