A SELF-confessed thief who took off with about P1.1 million cash from his employer’s vault blamed two separate fire incidents for his crime.

Twenty-nine-year-old Arnold Solon said that he was pushed to commit the robbery after his family’s home in Toledo City was destroyed by fire recently amid financial difficulties that came with an expectant wife.

Solon worked as a driver for a wing van that transported a beverage company’s products from Barangay Calajoan, Minglanilla town.

Since his last deliveries were brought to a warehouse in Barangay Banilad, Mandaue City, Solon always spent the night in the area.

When fire hit the warehouse in Banilad last Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, Solon said he took the chance to open the vault while his co-workers were preoccupied with putting out the blaze.

Since he could not take all the cash with him, Solon said he buried around P700,000 in the warehouse and absconded with the remaining P400,000.

Solon said that after taking the money, he fled to the hinterlands of Toledo City.

Fearing for his life and bothered by his conscience, Solon went to his sibling’s home to seek help as he wanted to surrender.

“I was starting to regret what I did because my family was dragged into it,” Solon said in Cebuano.

A few days after going into hiding, Solon turned himself in to radio dyHP station manager Ruphil Bañoc.

Solon said he chose to surrender before the lawyer-broadcaster because he trusted that Bañoc would ensure that nothing bad would happen to him.

Solon said he has already returned the P227,000 that was left of the money he took.

“I have already used over P100,000. That is all that’s left of it,” he added in Cebuano.

He apologized to his employer and told the latter that he was ready to face the charges that will be filed against him.

Solon, though, belied allegations that he started the fire to divert his colleagues’ attention while he robbed the vault.

Fire investigators found that the blaze was sparked by faulty electrical wiring.

Solon will now face charges of robbery and arson since he was accused of setting the warehouse on fire. (from AYB of Superbalita Cebu/RTF)