Cap over CCTV camera helps bag suspect in P18-M heist

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera helped catch one of three men who allegedly stole P18-million worth of cash and jewelry from a house in Quezon City Saturday night.

The suspects were not actually caught on video, but one of them, the grandson of the 73-year-old homeowner, was seen covering the lens of the CCTV camera inside the house.

Police identified the arrested suspect as David Ong, 21, of Geronimo Street, Barangay Tandang Sora.

Recovered from Ong were several pieces of gold and diamond jewelry which he allegedly took from the house of his grandfather Roberto Geronimo, a hardware store owner, along Tandang Sora Avenue.

Senior Police Officer 1 Cristituto Zaldarriaga, of the Quezon City Police District Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (QCPD-CIDU), said Geronimo was not at home when the burglary took place.

Investigation showed that only housemaids Teodola Bacohod and Mary Rose Bastida were at the house when the burglars struck.

Police said that around 10 p.m. Bastida saw Ong putting a bullcap on the lens of the CCTV camera outside the main door of the house. Ong then allegedly used a rock to break a glass window near the door.

Bastida immediately sought help from the Tandang Sora Barangay Peace, Security and Order (BPSO) office.

Barangay watchmen rushed to the house, but by the time they arrived, two of the suspects had fled by destroying a portion of the roof in the master bedroom.

Ong was arrested by BPSO personnel near the house and, when frisked, yielded a gold ring, three sets of diamond earrings, a pearl necklace and a watch. Barangay officers later turned him over to the police.

The two other burglars reportedly fled with cash and jewelry worth about P18 million.

At the QCPD-CIDU holding cell, Ong denied taking part in the burglary despite being caught red-handed with his share of the loot.

Police said they were set to file robbery charges against Ong in  the city prosecutor’s office.