Suspek na umano’y nilimas locker ng supermarket, huli matapos tangayin gamit ng mga empleyado

• A 46-year-old man was arrested for stealing smartphones and personal bags from a supermarket's employee locker room in Quezon City
• CCTV footage showed the suspect spent 20 minutes searching through staff belongings after entering through a shared restroom door
• Police identified the suspect using his distinctive footwear and a bicycle he had used during a previous release from jail in January
• The suspect confessed to the theft, citing financial struggles for basic utilities as the motive for targeting the supermarket staff

Authorities in Quezon City have apprehended a 46-year-old man who allegedly broke into the staff quarters of a supermarket along Quirino Highway.

The arrest followed a swift follow-up operation after two employees reported the loss of their mobile phones and personal belongings on Tuesday night, February 17, 2026.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage played a pivotal role in the investigation. The video showed the suspect patrolling the area on a bicycle before parking it nearby to time his entry.

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Taking advantage of an unlocked door, which led to a common restroom shared with the locker area, the man entered the facility and spent approximately 20 minutes rummaging through various bags and lockers.

The theft was discovered when a supermarket staff member went to retrieve a phone and found the locker empty.

Panic ensued as other colleagues checked their belongings, discovering that a second employee’s black bag, containing another phone and a wallet, had also been taken.

The Talipapa Police Station, led by Police Major Jacinto Pascual IV, successfully tracked the suspect to a location in Barangay Talipapa.

Investigators were able to confirm his identity through specific visual markers from the footage, including the footwear he was wearing and the bicycle used during the getaway.

Interestingly, the bicycle served as a major lead; it was the same one used by the suspect when he was previously released from custody on January 28.

Records show the man had a prior arrest for theft in December 2025 and has a history of involvement in other legal issues.

During the arrest, police recovered one of the stolen backpacks and a mobile phone. However, other items remained missing.

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In a statement to the authorities, the suspect admitted to the crime, claiming he was driven by financial desperation to pay for basic utilities like water and electricity.

He further alleged that one of the phones had been given away as a gift but promised it would be returned.

The suspect is now facing formal charges of theft. Meanwhile, the supermarket management has yet to release an official statement regarding the security breach in their employee locker rooms.

In other news, Joanna Jonson-Infante, the head official of Puerto Princesa's international gateway, lost her life in a targeted shooting on the evening of February 18. Digital surveillance in Barangay San Pedro captured a single perpetrator tailing the official as she made her way toward a house of worship. The leadership of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a stern condemnation, demanding a rapid and thorough search for those responsible. A dedicated Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) is now examining the victim’s professional and personal ties to uncover the motive behind the brazen crime.

Still in other news, local residents expressed deep concern after a video surfaced online showing a canine secured to the back of a traveling tricycle in the town of Villanueva. A collaborative effort between law enforcement and animal protection advocates led to the successful identification of the individual responsible for the pet. The owner defended the situation as a mistake, stating they were unaware the animal was still attached and acted immediately once the error was realized. Following a formal veterinary exam that revealed only superficial grazes, the pet was reunited with the family under a strict probationary warning from local officials.

Source: KAMI.com.gh