The police arrested a man involved in a series of thefts at luxury hotels in Taguig and Makati on Oct. 29.
The suspect, who uses the aliases Daniel and Michael, 52, was apprehended at a hotel in Makati after he victimized four government employees.
The initial incident occurred last Oct. 23 at Shangri-La The Fort Manila in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
The police with the suspect (center) (Photo from Makati Police / SPD)
The gun seized from the suspect (Photo from Makati Police / SPD)
The Kammerchor Manila at the event at Shangri-La The Fort Manila on Oct. 23 (Photo from Kammerchor Manila)
Members of a choir who performed at an event at the function room of the hotel found out that their iPad and other tablets, cellular phones, laptops, and cash estimated to be worth P674,000 were stolen.
Daniel allegedly stole the items and P27,500 in cash from the choir members who left their belongings in a hotel function room before performing at another function room just a few meters away.
The choir members arrived at the hotel around 9:30 a.m. and discovered their possessions missing shortly after 3 p.m., according to the police. Investigators conducted an immediate inspection of the area and identified the suspect through CCTV footage.
Shangri-La The Fort Manila earlier said it was cooperating with the investigation.
On Oct. 29, the suspect was arrested for theft at about 11:45 a.m. The arrest was the culmination of ongoing operations related to theft incidents at a five-star hotel located on Makati Avenue following complaints from four government employees.
Personnel from the Ayala Police Substation conducted the operation, identifying the suspect through CCTV footage and collaborating with other hotels in Makati, where he had been consistently victimizing guests.
Security management from a five-star hotel in Ayala Center alerted the police after spotting the suspect on their CCTV cameras who behaved suspiciously and was searching for another potential victim.
Officers approached the hotel lobby and spotted the suspect. As they prepared to apprehend him, they noticed a handle grip of a firearm protruding from his right waist.
During a subsequent body search of the suspect, they recovered a .38-caliber pistol loaded with five live rounds, resulting in an additional complaint for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act).
The Makati Police discovered that the suspect had an outstanding warrant of arrest with a recommended bail of P10,000 for theft issued by Presiding Judge Esmeralda Balderas David of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 4 in Olongapo City.
Another warrant of arrest with no recommended bail for robbery was by acting Presiding Judge Wilhelmina Go-Santiago of Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court Branch 18 on Oct. 27, 2022.
The serving of the warrant of arrest was conducted at 6:10 p.m. on Oct. 29.
“Thanks to the vigilance of our police and the cooperation of hotel security, the suspect is now in custody and will not be able to victimize anyone further. We encourage the public to report any suspicious activities to law enforcement without hesitation,” said Southern Police District chief Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang.