Sinulog parade incidents

Pickpockets hit  11 foreign tourists watching the Sinulog Grand Parade last Sunday and made off with at least P60,000 cash and cellphones.

At 10 a.m., Fudo Franken, 51,  told police that he was taking a video of the Sinulog parade on Osmeña Boulevard when he noticed that his belt bag was already open.

Franken, who was staying in Liloan town, north Cebu,  said he lost his Samsung Galaxy tablet worth at least P30,000 tucked inside the belt bag. He said he suspected it was stolen by  three   women, who went near him while he was busy taking a video of   Sinulog dancers.

At  about the same time, Joost Martin Langelerd, a Norwegian, told police that he lost his wallet with P5,000 cash, a driver’s license, and hotel keycard to an unidentified man, while the foreigner was busy watching the Sinulog parade along  Osmeña Boulevard.

At past 1 p.m., a Korean,  two Australian tourists, and a Dutch national, went to the police station to complain that pickpockets took their cash and valuables.

Korean Duke Yoon Min Yon, 22,  said he  lost his iPhone worth at least P30,000 to a pickpocket while he was walking along Escario Street.

Australians Anne Mroz, 55, and Adam Hans Mroz, 32,  complained that  somebody took their  cell phones along Osmeña Boulevard.

They didn’t  specify what kind of cell phones they owned.

Norwegian national Arjen Wander Nob Van Dijk, 28, also complained to police that somebody picked his pocket while he was sight seeing in Fuente Osmeña.   He lost his  wallet containing P4,000 cash and a credit card.

At past 2 p.m., an American and another Norwegian also went to the police station to report the loss of their wallets.

Angelo Nicholas Maggi, 62, said he was watching the Sinulog activities at the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda when he suddenly noticed his wallet gone.  The American  said his wallet contained P8,000, an ATM card, and his driver’s license.

Norwegian Hans Ivarschei, 58, told the police that he lost his wallet containing P12,000 cash, a driver’s license and credit card to a pickpocket when he was about to buy a Sinulog ticket inside Abellana National High School.

At past 3 p.m.,  petty thieves  hit  three more foreign visitors.

American Russell Ferguson, 52, told police that he lost his cell phone and a wallet containing credit cards while he was watching the Sinulog activity along Osmeña Boulevard.

Korean Kim Seul Ki, 22,  lost  his cellphone and cash while he was walking along Escario Street.

Dutch national Ubo Pakes, 45, also complained to police that a pickpocket stole his wallet containing P750 cash, a driver’s license and an ATM card along Mango Avenue, Cebu City.

Police also told Cebu Daily News last Sunday that pickpockets also victimized at least five Filipinos.

Senior Insp. Chuck Barandong, Chief of the Fuente Police Station 2, told CDN that at least five local residents lost their cell phones and cash to pickpockets.

Police said yesterday that they were still investigating these incidents.