Policemen arrest car thief

CEBU, Philippines - An alleged thief locally known as a “car artist” was arrested after he discreetly got inside a victim’s car and stole P20,000 cash and mobile phone along Villagonzalo 2, Barangay Tejero at 2 a.m. yesterday.

Suspect Jesus Pollistico, 30, a resident of the area, was arrested at around 11 a.m.  after bystanders identified him as the same person who victimized Robert Lim, 36.

Based on the initial investigation, Lim, a resident of Barangay Mabolo, parked his car in Villagonzalo 2 yesterday dawn and alighted from the car to urinate nearby.

After relieving himself, Lim returned to his car and saw the suspect inside.

Lim drove the suspect away and went home to sleep.

In the morning, the victim discovered that his mobile phone worth P8,000 and P20,00 cash placed inside the car were already missing.

He went to Waterfront Police Station and with the station’s the alert team composing Police Officer 2 Gean Paulo Saberon and Police Officer 1 Jon Bu Combis, returned to Villagonzalo 2.

A bystander identified the suspect, resulting to Po-llistico’s arrest in his house. The victim also pointed at him as the suspect.

Police recovered from the suspect the victim’s mobile phone but the P20,000 cash was no longer to be found.

The suspect is now detained and will face charges for theft.

Meanwhile, police in Talisay City has admitted that the series of robbery inside residential houses are perpetuated by minor junk scavengers, who they can’t arrest because of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

“Sige nami’g dakop ani nila, makagawas ra man gihapon kay mga minors man. Mao na’ng magbalik-balik ra pud ni sila,” said Senior Police Officer 1 Mikie Espina of Talisay City Police Station.

Since yesterday, at least three robbery incidents were recorded by police for the last seven days.

“Ang style ana nila, magda na sila og sako para mamunit og basura pero magpaniid na na sila sa pattern sa mga tawo sa usa ka bay. Asa ang agianan, pila ka tawo diha para nana sila’y idea,” said Espina.

The police officer said they have already arrested these minors “several times” but have always been released by the Department of Social welfare and Development after counseling. They then repeat their crime, he said. (FREEMAN)