SAN JUAN, Ilocos Sur — Two female meat vendors were arrested on Thursday after being accused of stealing a cellphone from a meat shop in this town.

According to Major Benjamin Raquedan, chief of the San Juan Police, the arrest came after a student reported the theft of a Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus, valued at P50,000.

The suspects, both residents of Barangay San Isidro, were later identified and taken into custody.

A third individual, also from the same barangay, initially claimed to have found the missing phone. However, further investigation revealed that the person had actually received the phone from the two suspects and had falsely claimed to have discovered it.

That individual is now cooperating with police.

The suspects were informed of their rights, and sworn statements have been collected from the victim, the victim’s mother, and the cooperating witness, Raquedan said.