Snatcher suspect in 2023, arrested; says committed crime for kid's birthday

• A man was arrested in Rodriguez, Rizal, for snatching a cellphone from a jeepney passenger in Marikina City in 2023
• Police said he committed the crime to prepare for his child’s birthday celebration
• The suspect hid for two years after skipping court hearings despite posting bail
• He admitted to the theft and asked for forgiveness from the victim

Police arrested a 30-year-old man in Rodriguez, Rizal for snatching a cellphone from a passenger inside a jeepney in Marikina City last October 2023.

Authorities caught him in a vacant lot in Barangay San Isidro after months of tracking.

According to police, the suspect posed as a passenger before suddenly grabbing the phone of a 33-year-old woman riding a jeep in Barangay Concepcion Uno.

He also threatened her before fleeing. The woman immediately reported the incident to nearby patrolling officers, which led to the quick recovery of her stolen cellphone worth around P8,000.

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Police Colonel Jenny Tecson, chief of Marikina City Police, said the suspect was initially arrested but later released after posting bail.

However, he failed to attend his scheduled hearings, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.

For two years, he moved between Marikina and Rodriguez, Rizal to avoid authorities. When captured, the suspect—identified only as “Joey”—confessed to committing the crime.

He said it was his first time stealing and that he did it out of desperation to buy food for his child’s birthday.

He expressed regret, saying it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. He added that he hoped the victim could forgive him for what he did.

The suspect is now detained at the Marikina Police custodial facility while awaiting further legal action.

Watch the report in the video below:

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

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In a previous report by KAMI, a family of three was mercilessly shot and killed inside their store in Barangay Mallorca, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija. Caught by CCTV, three men entered their store, closed the roll-up door, and shot the entire family to death. Before fleeing, one of the suspects even grabbed a bag and a mobile phone from the victim. In a report by Gary De Leon of TV 5's 'Frontline Pilipinas,' the family started getting threats after lending P1-M to one of the residents of their barangay; allegedly using the money for business.

In another viral local report, a 51-year-old public school teacher in Las Piñas City was stabbed multiple times by her own husband. According to the report of EJ Gomez in 'Unang Balita,' the 38-year-old suspect committed the crime inside the school's faculty room. Police authorities said the school has a security guard, but, being a familiar face in the school, the suspect managed to easily get in and out of the school. The suspect said he was there to talk to his wife and settle their misunderstanding, but unfortunately, it led to a big arguement.

Source: KAMI.com.gh