Malabon cops hunt gadget thief

Police are searching for a motorcycle-riding man captured on security footage stealing electronics from two separate businesses in Malabon on Saturday afternoon.

The first incident occurred at 12:17 p.m. in Barangay Tinajeros. CCTV footage shows a man arriving on a motorcycle and entering a pet food store. He is seen quickly grabbing a mobile phone valued at P15,000 from a stack of dog food bags while a female employee was looking away.

Approximately 13 minutes later, the same man was spotted in Barangay Flores, where he allegedly targeted a commercial establishment.

Luisa Legaspi, a staff member at the second shop, said the man distracted her by pretending to be a customer interested in purchasing tumblers.

“He was looking around, so I thought he was going to buy something else,” Legaspi said. “I was busy getting stock.”

The suspect eventually left the store, claiming he did not have enough money to complete a purchase.

When the store owner, Ann Romero, arrived shortly after, she discovered her work tablet — valued between P18,000 and P19,000 — was missing.

“I checked the CCTV, and there it was,” Romero said. “I sent my husband to the police station in Hulong Duhat to report it and had it recorded in the barangay blotter.”

Malabon authorities said they have already identified a potential suspect. Police are currently conducting a manhunt and the suspect is expected to face theft charges once apprehended.