Bus conductor nabbed for selling stolen camera to owner

MANILA — A bus conductor was arrested in Muntinlupa City after he was caught selling a camera to its owner who reported it stolen almost two years ago, police said.

The suspect, identified as James Andrew Pacis, 26, resident of Purok 6, Pasong Makipot, Barangay Putatan, was nabbed in a fastfood chain in the same barangay on Saturday morning, Supt. Jenny Tecson, the Southern Police District spokesperson, said.

Complainant Edson Michael Simon, 36, a resident of San Pedro, Laguna, and medical technologist of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, reported to the police on Dec. 15, 2014, that his camera and accessories were stolen from his car.

Simon said someone broke the rear left window of his car, which was then parked at the RITM, and took his camera bag containing the gadgets.

On Friday, Simon saw a camera, with the same serial number as his missing DSLR camera, being sold online. After joining the Facebook group “DSLR Sale PH,” he was able to contact the seller and arrange a meet-up.

Simon then sought the assistance of Muntinlupa police, showing his official receipt containing the serial number corresponding to the camera being sold.

Simon met with Pacis on Saturday morning and gave the signal to the operatives upon confirming that the items brought by the suspect were his missing camera and accessories.

The team led by Chief Insp. Julian Olonan and Chief Insp. Reynaldo Marcella Jr. arrested Pacis and recovered the bag, the Sony DSLR, several filters and lenses, flash and camera battery with charger.

A complaint of violation of the Anti-Fencing Law will be filed against Pacis in the Muntinlupa prosecutor’s office.  SFM