Lamp post thieves foiled

Barangay officials arrested three persons, including a minor, for stealing lamp posts in Tondo, Manila before dawn yesterday.

Arrested were Tony Lim, owner of a junkshop, Direck Lumagi, 21, and his companion, a minor, both from Perla street, Tondo. They will be charged with theft, vandalism and destruction of government property.

Lumagi and his young friend were arrested along Juan Luna street in Tondo at around 4 a.m. while detaching a lamp post.

The two suspects initially tried to escape when spotted by patrolling barangay officials, led by barangay chairwoman Priscila Evangelista,.

When caught, the two told probers that they intend to sell the lamp posts to a junk shop on Jose Abad Santos Avenue.

Operatives of the Western Police District-Special Operations Group conducted a follow-up operation that led to Lim’s arrest.

The two also admitted to have stolen about 15 lamp posts worth P15,000 each and six ballasts worth P5,000 each.

Last year, a businessman and a barangay chairman were arrested for stealing benches from Roxas Boulevard and Plaza Moriones. – Cecille Suerte Felipe