DJ loses ‘Hello Kitty’ collection in burglary

Nicole Hyala. FILE PHOTO

The disc jockey known as “Nicole Hyala” lost around P225,000 worth of valuables, including her cherished “Hello Kitty” collection, in a burglary at her Caloocan City residence early Friday.

The theft was discovered around 8 a.m. at the house of radio celebrity Emmy Gaite-Tiñana in Hillcrest Village, Barangay 173, according to Senior Supt. Bartolome Bustamante, chief of the Caloocan City police.

Stolen were Tiñana’s Hello Kitty-motiffed valuables, including a flat-screen TV and sound system, a camera, a game console, and 10 old mobile phones bearing the image of the famous character, along with some brand-new clothes, according to SPO4 Renato Florentino.

Tiñana and her family were not at the house at the time of the burglary as they were staying at another address outside Caloocan, Florentino said. The theft was discovered by the caretaker, Rocelyn Rillos, who also reported that a sliding door was forcibly opened.

Nicole Hyala is best known for her infectious laughter and wisecracks that spice up a morning show on FM station Love Radio.

In her Twitter account, the DJ said she was sad and relieved at the same time since her family was not in that house during the break-in. She used the hashtag #justiceforhellokittyhouse to express her sense of loss. Her Hello Kitty house or “meowseum” was once featured on GMA 7. She also had a Hello Kitty-themed wedding.

In an interview with the Inquirer on Friday, Tiñana said her house was ransacked and the drawers were destroyed. Four closed circuit television cameras were also taken.

“The incident would haunt me for a week…I am sad not just because I lost my valued possessions — specifically my very old Nokia phones — which I worked hard for, but also because I realized how unsafe and scary it is to live in the Metro now.  It’s bothering that even the witnesses and my neighbors are afraid and cannot even speak up or offer relevant information regarding the suspect,” she added.

Tiñana said she was about to come up onstage as a host of this year’s Ad Summit when she learned about the incident.

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