Man tries to unlock stolen phone with Face ID, arrested in Parañaque

A 25-year-old Chinese national was arrested within three minutes after allegedly stealing a cellphone from a woman at a spa in Parañaque City on Friday.

In a statement on 9 June, the Southern Police District (SPD) said the incident occurred at around 8:40 AM at EMGRAND Spa along Bradco Avenue in Barangay Tambo.

The victim, a 26-year-old woman identified only as "Mary," told police that she was having breakfast with her cousin when the suspect approached and forcibly took her cellphone.

“The suspect allegedly attempted to unlock the victim’s cellphone using facial recognition,” the SPD said.

Mary immediately reported the incident to officers at the nearby Tambo Substation, who quickly coordinated with the spa's management. The suspect, identified as alias “Su,” a native of Sichuan, China, was arrested on-site after the victim pointed him out.

Alias "Su" is now in police custody and is facing charges of theft and unjust vexation.