‘Father Glenn’ tagged in Mandaue swindling

The con artist who victimized a money exchange shop and ran off with more than P100,000 was the same person who stole the camera of Korean tourists strolling at the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño in Cebu City in 2011.

In the latter case, the man allegedly identified himself as “Father Glenn”, Insp. Ramil Morpos, chief of the theft and robbery section of the Mandaue City Police Office, said.

Police said that in the 2011 incident, the man approached a group of Korean tourists taking pictures at the Basilica Minore Del Sto. Niño church.

The Koreans told police that the man introduced himself as Father Glenn and claimed he was one of the priests in the church.

The man warned the tourists that they were not allowed to take photos inside the church.

The Koreans said the man took their camera and offered that he will be the one to take their photos.

The Koreans took the photo of the man using a cellphone camera before handing their camera to him.

The man left after taking their camera. The Koreans later turned over the man’s photo to the police.

Anthony Lauron, 34, teller of VHEZ Money Changer, who was victimized Thursday afternoon, said the man in the picture was the same person who conned him.

Lauron was asked by his employer to deliver P122,400 cash to a certain Dr. Cortes, who earlier called the money exchange shop to have his $3,000 changed to peso.

The man brought Lauron to the convent of Saint Joseph Shrine in barangay Centro.

The con artist took the money from Lauron and left purportedly to get the $3,000 from his mother but never returned.

Police advised the public who can give information about the man’s whereabouts to call land line numbers 318-5173 or 343-6376./REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS