Notorious "thief" falls

CEBU, Philippines – An alleged notorious thief, whose modus includes renting boarding houses to victimize boarders, was arrested yesterday in Barangay Camputhaw.

The suspect was identified as Maria Lorwena Lunas, 30, resident of D. Jakosalem St., Barangay Dayas.

Lunas was taken into police custody because of alleged possession of illegal drugs. She was walking along Mango Avenue at 10:00 a.m. yesterday when Police Officer 3 Juvee Tantiado, Jr. recognized her to be on their rouges gallery for several complaints of theft and swindling.

Tantiado, who is assigned at the Theft and Robbery Section, was on his way to report to the headquarters after taking the physical fitness test at the Cebu City Sport Center when he spotted Lunas.

Tantiado said he called for back-up and discretely followed Lunas until his back-up arrived. When PO2 Justino Paragados and SPO1 Michael Ernie arrived, they immediately approached the suspect.

The policemen noticed Lunas throwing a plastic pack on the ground as they approached her. According to the police, they were suspicious of the plastic pack prompting them to check.

The police found out that it contains a pack of suspected shabu and drug-sniffing paraphernalia.

The police immediately placed Lunas under arrest for possession of illegal drugs. While in police custody, at least two complainants appeared to file a complaint against Lunas.

She was identified by the victims as the notorious thief who has allegedly victimized at least 10 people. TRS chief Bonifacio Garciano said the recent reported incident involving the suspect happened in a boarding house in Barangay Talamban where she took almost P200,000 worth of belongings and P10,000 cash from her roommate. (FREEMAN)