Man foils car theft in QC mall parking lot

A man thwarted a car thief’s attempt to make off with his vehicle at a mall in Quezon City on Wednesday night.

Bryan Quinio was arrested after he was caught driving out of the parking lot with Kim Paulo Dimaano’s vehicle, a black Toyota Corolla.

When searched, the 29-year-old Quinio yielded a gaming device and several identification cards belonging to Silveriano Villanueva, another car owner whose vehicle was parked nearby. Also found on him were several duplicate car keys.

Quezon City Police District director Chief Supt. Richard Albano said the foiled car theft incident happened at the fourth level parking lot of SM North Edsa at 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Dimaano said he was walking back to his car when he spotted a man behind the wheel, preparing to drive it away. He promptly asked for help from mall security guards who arrested the car thief later identified as Quinio.

Upon his apprehension, Quinio yielded a black sling bag with a PlayStation Portable 3000 gaming console and a wallet containing Villanueva’s ID cards.

It took an hour, however, before Villanueva discovered that someone had broken into his car, a black Honda Civic, taking his valuables.

He reported the matter to the Masambong police station where he learned that his belongings had been recovered from Quinio.