Cable theft nabbed in San Juan
WARNING against power cable theft. Meralco warned the public anew on the dangers of theft of electrical facilities including power cables. Seen in the photos are sections of power cables that had been illegally cut and stolen.
A man was caught in the act of stealing underground telecommunications cables along Jose Abad Santos Street, Barangay Little Baguio, San Juan City early Monday morning.
At around 3 a.m., barangay personnel monitoring closed-circuit television footage spotted the suspect alighting from a motorcycle before descending directly into a manhole at the corner of Jose Abad Santos and Mascardo Streets.
The motorcycle rider immediately fled the scene, prompting local watchmen to alert the Sta. Lucia Police Sub-Station 2 of the San Juan City Police Station.
Responding law enforcers and barangay personnel swiftly secured the area and caught the suspect—identified as a 34-year-old construction worker from Caloocan City—red-handed while stripping and stealing underground copper cables.
Recovered from the suspect were two sections of underground copper cables measuring approximately 1.2 meters and 1.1 meters, with a combined estimated value of P230,155.98. Authorities also seized a steel saw, a safety helmet, and a rice sack used in the commission of the crime.
A representative from the affected telecommunications company subsequently appeared at the police station and positively identified the recovered items as company property.
The suspect is currently detained at the San Juan City Police Station pending inquest proceedings for violations of Republic Act No. 10515 (Anti-Cable Television and Cable Internet Tapping Act of 2013) and Article 308 of the Revised Penal Code (Theft).