Notorious burglar nabbed in Mandaluyong

He hit the end of the road after stealing a car.

Richard Anthony Jimenez, 23, long wanted for a string of burglary cases, was arrested yesterday by the Mandaluyong City police and close to P1 million worth of stolen items, including a car, were recovered in the process.

Jimenez, of Block 38, Welfareville Compound, Barangay Addition Hills gave himself up peacefully to a police team led by PO3 Bayani Prianes at about 7 a.m. yesterday.

The suspect was positively identified by his latest victim, Rodolfo Vergara, 74, during a confrontation at police headquarters right after his arrest, Prianes said.

Vergara, said he was awakened by the noise of his car’s engine at 1 a.m. Tuesday. When he looked in his garage, he saw Jimenez inside his dark blue Toyota Corona EX Saloon with license plate UHJ939. Jimenez was attempting to drive the car out of the garage of Vergara’s home at 8 Road 1, Cordillera St., Barangay Highway Hills when Vergara ran down to stop him.

Vergara said he tried to give chase but he was left gasping for breath as his car rapidly disappeared from sight.

When he made an inventory of his property, Vergara also found Jimenez had stolen his computer worth P60,000; an Aiwa stereo component valued at P20,000; a 21-inch Sony color television worth P20,000 and an industrial fan worth P3,000.

The victim reported the robbery to the police and was shown the police rogue gallery of Akyat Bahay gang members operating in the city, from which he identified Jimenez. "He was 100 percent positive that it was Jimenez whom he had seen inside the car," Prianes said.

Jimenez’s arrest came after an informant tipped off Prianes regarding the suspect’s presence in the Welfareville Compound. – Non Alquitran