Police arrested seven suspects Tuesday in connection with an early morning heist at a convenience store in Nueva Ecija after a high-speed pursuit that ended in Quezon City.
The robbery occurred around 4:30 a.m. Monday when armed individuals traveling in a Mitsubishi L300 van stormed an Alfamart in Barangay Dampulan, the Philippine National Police said. The suspects made off with a store vault containing approximately P82,600, grocery items valued at P12,000 and an EC Pay kiosk.
Authorities used GPS data and surveillance footage to track the getaway vehicle across provincial lines. By 8:45 a.m., responding units recovered the stolen payment kiosk in a grassy area along the southbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway in Marilao, Bulacan.
The pursuit concluded at approximately 2 p.m. in Barangay Greater Lagro, Quezon City, where a joint team from the Jaen Municipal Police and the Quezon City Police District apprehended the suspects.
The group includes a 61-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman.
During the arrest, officers recovered the getaway van, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, and the stolen safety vault. Police also reported finding plastic sachets of suspected shabu, drug paraphernalia, and burglary tools, including steel crowbars and a power grinder.
The suspects are being held at the Jaen Municipal Police Station. Charges are expected to include robbery and illegal possession of firearms and drugs.