A 49-year-old man was arrested for attempting to defraud a supermarket in Sta. Cruz, Manila, by switching price tags on food items.
The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspect as Jonathan Aspa.
He was taken into custody after he allegedly swapped the price tag of a more expensive pork cutlet with that of a cheaper beef sukiyaki at the supermarket's fresh section on Monday, Jan. 27.
According to reports, Aspa, was observed by a female security guard, while he placed the pork cutlet order.
The security guard noticed Aspa taking the price tag off the beef sukiyaki and replacing the original price tag on the pork cutlet with the one from the cheaper item.
Aspa then proceeded to the cashier where he paid for the pork cutlet using the incorrect and lower price tag from the beef sukiyaki.
When the security guards checked the receipt, they confirmed the fraudulent transaction.
The guard immediately detained Aspa and escorted him to the supermarket's security office for initial investigation.
Police responded to the scene, and Aspa was subsequently turned over to the Blumentritt Police Community Precinct (PCP) for processing.
Authorities are currently preparing charges of estafa (fraud) against Aspa for his involvement in the price tag switching scam.