Stolen tablet’s GPS leads cops to robbers

A man was reunited with his tablet which was taken by robbers who broke into his house in Quezon City, thanks to the global positioning system (GPS) installed in the device.

Using the tracking mechanism, the police tracked down and arrested the two suspects who were identified as Raymond Reyes and Joel David. Authorities said they were part of the Cuya robbery gang believed to be behind several heists reported earlier this year.

A third member, Jonathan Cuya, 23, said to be the gang leader, managed to escape, according to Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Richard Albano.

“The iPad was instrumental in the immediate arrest of the suspects,” Albano said.

Earlier, Ruben Dizon, a 42-year-old sugarcane farmer, told the police that five men barged into his house in Barangay Laging Handa on Wednesday morning.

Three of the robbers were later identified by the victims as Cuya, Reyes and David. Together with their cohorts, they tied up three members of Dizon’s family, including a 7-year-old boy.

The robbers ransacked the house and took a still undetermined amount of cash in addition to other valuables such as several pieces of jewelry, Dizon’s iPad, a laptop computer and a cell phone kept in a vault.

Case investigator PO3 Erickson Isidro said after the suspects escaped on two motorcycles, the victims managed to free themselves and went to the Kamuning police station to ask for help.

Later in the day, Dizon tracked his tablet using the GPS device to Sto. Cristo Street in Barangay Balingasa.

He gave the information to the police which sent a team to conduct followup operations. During a search of the area, policemen chanced upon Reyes and David who were both armed.

A firefight broke out, leaving Reyes wounded after he was shot in the back. He was placed under arrest along with David.

The police said Reyes yielded a loaded submachine gun and David a 9mm firearm. Also found in David’s house were the valuables they took from Dizon, including the iPad, laptop computer, cell phone, cable digiboxes, a digital video recorder, a portable DVD player, two shoulder bags and a traveling bag.

The cash and jewelry, however, were nowhere to be found. The two suspects also yielded three motorcycles.

Reyes, meanwhile, was taken to MCU Hospital in Caloocan City for treatment.