Man nabbed for selling stolen camera to owner

A BUS conductor was arrested in Muntinlupa City after he was caught selling a camera to its owner who had reported it stolen almost two years ago.

James Andrew Pacis, 26, a resident of Purok 6, Pasong Makipot in Muntinlupa City, was apprehended at a fastfood restaurant in Barangay Putatan on Saturday morning, Southern Police District spokesperson Supt. Jenny Tecson said.

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

Simon said that someone broke the rear window of his car which was parked at the RITM and took his camera bag.

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 help from the Muntinlupa police, showing them 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 being sold by the suspect were his.

The team led by Chief Inspectors Julian Olonan and Reynaldo Marcella Jr. arrested Pacis and recovered the bag, the Sony DSLR, several filters and lenses, flash and camera battery with charger. A complaint for violation of the Anti-Fencing Law will be filed against Pacis in the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office.