TV ‘extra’ arrested for stealing valuables from fellow talent
MANILA, Philippines — A talent working as an extra for a television show ended up behind bars after stealing the valuables of her fellow talent and even posting her loot on Instagram for the whole world to see.
The victim realized that the suspect had been stealing from her after she saw her clothes and jewelry being worn by the suspect and displayed on social media.
Collene Reyes, 18, of Tarlac City was apprehended in follow-up operations after Kathleen Kaye Tinapay, 26, lodged a complaint against her.
The two women were talents for “Wattpad Class 3C,” a TV 5 show. They only met last November 25 during a taping of the television show.
The case investigator, PO3 Roldan Cornejo, of the Quezon City Police District’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said the two women became fast friends in the course of their work as talents.
On November 25, Reyes allegedly asked Tinapay if she could sleep over at the victim’s condominium unit in Barangay Bago Bantay, since the suspect forgot the keys to her dormitory.
The suspect left the condominium at around 7:45 am the following day with her backpack.
It was only on November 30 that the victim discovered that some of her clothes and jewelry were missing from the room that Reyes used, but did not think that her fellow talent was behind it.
On December 1, Reyes again asked Tinapay if she could stay over, to which the victim agreed.
Days later on December 19, Tinapay thought of checking Reyes’ Instagram account, where she realized that her new friend had been stealing from her.
Posted on Instagram for the world to see was Tinapay’s clothes and jewelry being worn by Reyes.
The victim reported the theft to the police, after which the suspect was arrested last Saturday upon returning to the victim’s condominium unit.
Cornejo said the suspect was unable to deny the charges since the evidence against her was already on social media. Theft charges will be filed against Reyes at the Quezon City prosecutors’ office.
Tinapay was able to recover some of the stolen clothes, a gold necklace and gold earrings, while another pair of gold earrings and a gold ring was pawned at an unnamed pawnshop. SFM
