The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has arrested four suspects, one of them a minor, in the robbery of an Electronic Transfer and Advance Processing (eTap) machine in Quezon City.
The location of the eTap machine that was robbed by four individuals. (Photo from QCPD PIO)
Police identified the suspects as alias "Mark," 44; "Eugenio," 24; "Marcelito," 21; and a minor.
According to Fairview Police Station 5 (PS 5), the suspects were nabbed in a follow-up operation on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Police said that hours prior their apprehension, the suspects arrived at a well-known convenience store in North Fairview, Quezon City at about 2:36 a.m.
Riding on separate motorcycles, the suspects forcefully tampered with the eTap machine mounted outside the store and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
They then quickly fled.
Fortunately, patrolling officers from PS 5 discovered the incident around 4:00 a.m. and promptly notified the eTap personnel.
Around 8:45 a.m., an eTap representative filed a formal complaint about the robbery at PS 5.
The police launched an operation that resulted in the apprehension of the suspects at 9:00 p.m. on Junjie St. in Brgy. Kaligayahan, Quezon City.
Authorities confiscated from the suspects spare parts of the stolen eTap machine and two unregistered motorcycles.
Further investigation revealed that the suspects were also responsible for the robbery of another eTap machine at another convenience store on Commonwealth Avenue in Brgy. North Fairview, Quezon City.
Police said that robbery complaints had been filed against the three suspects before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, the minor involved in the incident has been turned over to the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children in Barangay 185, Caloocan City.
QCPD chief Col. Melecio M. Buslig, Jr. commended the swift action of PS 5.
“This successful operation highlights our commitment to maintaining peace and security in Quezon City. The QCPD will continue to take decisive action against criminal activities and urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior," he said.