Man steals bike in front of its owner, is arrested

This one’s for the books.

A man was arrested Friday night in San Juan after he tried to run off with a motorcycle in front of its owner.

Jerry Tamara, a security guard, had parked his motorcycle at the parking lot of North Park Restaurant on P. Guevarra Street and went to work as a guard at the restaurant.

At around 11 p.m., Tamara saw Joel Sangalang trying to switch on his bike using an improvised flat screw.

Tamara pretended first not to know anything and approached Sangalang and asked him if the motorbike was his. Sangalang said yes.

Tamara then said he owned the bike and told Sangalang to stop what he was doing. By that time, however, Sangalang had managed to start the engine, got on the bike and drove it.

Tamara then drew his gun and fired a warning shot. This apparently scared off Sangalang who lost control of the vehicle and fell off of it.

In custody

Tamara took Sangalang into custody, and informed the police about the incident, according to Senior Supt. Rainier Espina, San Juan police chief.

Sangalang is now detained at the San Juan City Police station as criminal charges are being readied against him.

Espina, meanwhile, said that it was possible the suspect was a member of a notorious robbery group operating in the city.

A follow-up operation is being conducted by the police.