Five suspected pickpockets were arrested by Manila Police District (MPD) operatives for allegedly victimizing jeepney passengers at the corner of Taft Avenue and Pablo Ocampo Street in Malate, Manila on Monday, March 27. MPD identified the suspects as Harold Royola, 37; Ian Manalang, 38; Pepito Jr. Villanueva, 50; Ireneo Gonzalez, 48; and Renan Encarnacion, 36, all residents of Barangay Manaol, Nagcarlan, Laguna. According to MPD, the suspects and victims Ronnel Bajao, 37, and Marvin Rosales, 45, were on board a jeepney with Quiapo to Baclaran route when the incident happened at 6:40 a.m. Police said one of the suspects handed over a fare to the victims but intentionally dropped the coins. When the victims were picking up the coins from the floor, the suspects took Rosales' cellphone and Bajao's wallet from the victims' pockets. The victims became suspicious when the suspects suddenly informed them that their cellphone and wallet were taken by a passenger who had just alighted from the jeepney. After distressing the victims, the suspects alighted from the jeepney and transferred to a Utility Vehicle (UV) Express along Taft Avenue. The victims immediately reported the incident to policemen who were conducting bicycle patrol in the area. The policemen chased stopped the UV Express where the suspects were onboard. They arrested the five suspects and recovered from them at least seven cellphones, identification cards, and P1,400 cash. During investigation, police discovered that some of the suspects were previously involved in theft and illegal drug cases. All suspects will be charged with theft before the City Prosecutors Office of Manila.