LAOAG CITY — Three women were arrested after allegedly stealing a wallet containing cash and identification cards from a 68-year-old woman along Bonifacio Street corner Villanueva Street in Barangay 16 on Aug. 9.

Police said the incident occurred around 9:45 a.m. while the victim was shopping at stalls in the area.

According to the police report, the suspects allegedly surrounded the victim while she was looking at products. The victim then noticed her beige Mikaela shoulder bag moving and saw one of the suspects take her black-and-brown Jovanni leather wallet.

The wallet reportedly contained assorted identification cards and ₱15,450 in cash.

The suspect allegedly left the area immediately. The victim followed and demanded the return of her wallet, but the 77-year-old suspect allegedly ignored her and handed it to the 43-year-old suspect before the group proceeded toward a crowd, causing the victim to lose sight of them.

The victim reported the incident to the Laoag City Police Station, prompting police to launch a hot-pursuit operation.

At around 12:15 p.m., police personnel, together with the victim, were traversing Juan Luna Street near Barangay 14 when they spotted three women in front of McDonald's.

The victim positively identified them as the suspects, police said.

The team and the victim then alighted from an unmarked vehicle and, after verifying the circumstances of the incident, arrested the three women.

The arrested suspects were identified as a 77-year-old widow and a 43-year-old single woman, both residents of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, and another woman of legal age from Tondo, Manila.

Police said the suspects were informed of their constitutional rights in a language they understood. The arrest and the informing of their rights were also recorded using an Alternative Recording Device.

The suspects and recovered items were brought to the Laoag City Police Station for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.