Woman, 72, tagged as pickpocket in Manila

The allegations, if true, would make Lolita Santos one of the oldest pickpockets to land behind bars in Manila.

Santos, 72, easily stood out because of her age among fellow inmates at the women’s holding cell of a Manila police station, where she was booked for theft on a complaint from a 24-year-old nurse. She strongly denied the allegations.

The City Prosecutor’s Office approved the charges against Santos after she allegedly victimized Alianne Krisska Obregon. The complainant alleged that she caught Santos reaching into her bag while the former was waiting at LRT 1 Tayuman station at around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Police Officer 3 Raylene Cruz of the Manila Police District’s Sta. Cruz station said many policemen in the area recognized Santos for she had been arrested before on similar complaints.

Obregon blamed Santos for the loss of a purse with P2,350 in cash, according to the police report. After catching Santos in the act of reaching into her bag, the nurse frisked Santos and forced her to empty her pockets, but the latter only produced crumpled bills worth P1,900.

Santos then claimed that she won her money from a card game. Still, the nurse alerted LRT security when Santos tried to leave, and had the septuagenarian arrested.

Interviewed by the Inquirer at her cell, Santos denied the allegations, saying she was merely on her way to Blumentritt when she was confronted by Obregon. “I am innocent,” she tearfully said.

Police said Santos may be released if she could post a P12,000 bail.