Korean loses P250k in cash to 4 pickpockets

MANILA, Philippines—A female Korean call center agent lost cash and valuables amounting to P250,000 to pickpockets on a passenger bus Monday morning.

Un Ju Seo, 40, who works as a call center agent in Manila, told the police that unidentified men stole her pouch containing cash amounting to P21,000 and US$5,000, said Mandaluyong police investigator Police Officer 3 Marlon Climacosa.

The thieves also took her IDs, ATM cards and a picture of her mother.

The victim said she was on a bus traveling the southbound lane of Edsa at 7:45 a.m. Four men took the seats next to her, she told police.

The men disembarked at the corner of Boni Avenue near a Caltex gasoline station in Mandaluyong City.

When the victim noticed that her pouch was missing, she decided to get off the bus to run after the suspects, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Climacosa said a tricycle driver brought the call center agent to the barangay (village) hall and then the police station to report the robbery.