Seller of allegedly stolen camera equipment collared

A 22-year-old delivery rider was caught attempting to dispose of allegedly stolen high-end camera equipment valued at P304,000 during an entrapment operation on Wednesday, 7 October.

The swift police response was triggered when a vigilant complainant personally sought assistance after discovering missing professional gear listed on a popular online selling application.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspect, employed as a delivery rider, was originally commissioned to transport the equipment but allegedly failed to deliver the items to their designated recipient. Instead, the suspect illicitly offered the valuables for sale online. Upon spotting the listing, the rightful owner cleverly posed as a prospective buyer to arrange a meet-up before immediately alerting local law enforcement authorities.

At around 2 p.m., the complainant formally appeared at the theft and robbery office to report the pending transaction involving assorted digital cameras and lenses stolen from a 21-year-old videographer and editor based in Muntinlupa City.

Armed with vital details, undercover police teams immediately proceeded to the designated meeting place inside a coffee shop located within a bustling shopping mall in Manila, seamlessly positioning themselves around the area to monitor the exchange.

The suspect arrived as scheduled and presented the high-value equipment. As soon as the complainant verified that the serial numbers on the lenses matched the exact figures of the stolen property, the prearranged signal was given, prompting nearby operatives to close in and execute the arrest.

The suspect now faces formal criminal charges for violating Presidential Decree No. 1612, otherwise known as the Anti-Fencing Law of 1979, while case documents are being rushed for immediate inquest proceedings.