7 ‘pickpockets’ nabbed

Local

By MyTVCebu Desk

SEVEN individuals were arrested for their alleged involvement in a series of thefts in night clubs in Cebu City.

The suspects, composed of six members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) and a woman, were arrested in a pension house on Pelaez Street in Barangay Kalubihan, Cebu City.

The female suspect was identified as Levy, 27. The other suspects were Oyong, 27; Jimboy, 54; Jerome, 31; Jame, 24; Arwen, 26; and Christian.

The suspects, who are also from Cebu City, preyed on unsuspecting customers partying in night establishments, police said.

Col. George Ylanan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, said it was around 4 a.m. on Thursday, when a certain Glen reported that he was victimized by a group of thieves in a night club on Pelaez.

Glenn said he was in the night club when he met a woman and five LGBTQ members.

Glenn said the group approached him and joined him at his table.

After a few drinks, the group left. Glenn then noticed his cellphone worth P10,000 was missing.

Glenn reported the incident to the police, who reviewed images captured by the establishment’s security camera.

Police then tracked down the culprits and were later tipped off that the group was staying in a pension house near the establishment.

Police conducted a follow-up operation and cornered the suspects around 10 a.m. on Thursday.

Ylanan said the same group was also identified as the ones who victimized foreigners in night clubs in downtown areas and in IT Park.

Police said the group would usually befriend foreigners and would distract their victims through physical intimacy before taking their belongings.

There were instances when the suspects were able to convince their victims to bring them to their rented places only to steal their belongings.

One of the suspects, Levy, was apologetic, saying she was forced to engage in the illegal activity to feed her family.

“Sa among mga nabiktima mangayo lang mig pasaylo ninyu kay tawo rasad mi nga nanginahanglan, wala mi lain maduolan kanang nangita mig pamaagi kung asa mi maka kitag kwarta alang sa among pamilya,” Levy said.

Ylanan called on other theft victims to visit the Cebu City Police Office for the possible identification of the suspects.(CDB)