MANILA, Philippines—It pays to be alert when taking public transport.
A college student’s quick wits and police’s quick action led to the arrest of four thieves preying on bus passengers before dawn Friday on EDSA in Quezon City.
The four suspects, identified as Joseph Matira, 39, Ronald Sazan, 39, his brother Jerome, 25, and Joel Tanyes, 28, admitted victimizing passengers who seem to be too relaxed and unaware of their surroundings.
“They go for passengers who are absent-minded,” said Quezon City Police District director Senior Supt. Richard Albano.
But their would-be victim aboard an Elena Bus Transit turned out to be an alert one. Marcelo Garol, 21, noticed that the suspects kept bumping him from all sides during the ride apparently to distract him.
When the bus stopped in front of Farmers’ Plaza in Cubao at around 4:50 a.m., Garol noticed one of the suspects unzipping his backpack and taking his cellphone.
He immediately shouted for help. Fortunately for Garol, a team of bus marshalls in the nearby police station heard him and sprung into action. They blocked the door of the bus and caught the four suspects.
Garol got back his phone and his backpack and proceeded to his destination, while the suspects were held by the police.