A MAN was arrested during a hot pursuit operation after stealing the cell phone of a policeman assigned at the City Mobile Force Company of the Cebu City Police Office.
The suspect was identified as Arnel Perales Pacaña, 36, from Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City.
Pacaña was recognized as the culprit after reviewing the CCTV recordings in the vicinity.
The suspect can be seen in the video taking away the police officer's P26,000 smartphone.
The police then carried out a hot pursuit operation and arrested the suspect at around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16, near a lodging house in Colon Street.
The victim recovered his cell phone following the suspect’s admission that he had sold it in Barangay T. Padilla and identified the buyer.
According to Police Major Mark Don Alfred Leanza, the chief of the Abellana Police Station, the victim parked his motorcycle near Robinsons on F. Ramos Street while on beat patrol in the vicinity.
Since they were prohibited from using it while on duty, he left his phone in the motorcycle.
But when he returned, his cell phone was already gone.
The suspect will be charged with theft. (AYB, TPT)