Five suspects, including two minors, were arrested for stealing 32 government-issued and two personal laptops from a faculty room of a school in Sta. Ana, Manila, during the recent typhoons.

The Manila Police District (MPD) and Barangay 905 Kagawad Edwin Zambrona said the robbery was only discovered in the aftermath of the typhoons, after a teacher reported it on Tuesday, July 29.

In a media interview, Zambrona said, “Ito po ay nangyari noong kasagsagan po ng bagyo kaya lately na lang din po nalaman ng pamunuan ng school kung ano yung mga nawala sa kanila, nung aftermath na lang po ng bagyo” (This happened during the height of the typhoon, which is why the school administration only found out what was missing after the storm had passed).

Sta. Ana Police Station (PS-6) Investigation Section Chief Lt. Janice Agustin said an ocular inspection revealed that the suspects forcibly broke the doorknob of the faculty room and damaged the steel cabinet to access the items inside.

The MPD said the stolen items from the storage cabinet included 32 DepEd-issued laptops, electrical wires, and personal belongings such as two laptops (Avita and Acer) and a Wi-Fi modem.

The PS-6 identified the adult suspects as “Rodrigo,” 35; “Alberto,” 23; and “Rhey,” 19. They are currently detained at the PS-6 Custodial Facility and are facing robbery charges.

The two minors were identified as “MGS,” 17, and “SDL,” 15. Both were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). All five were arrested during a follow-up operation.

Zambrona noted that the two minors are typically known in their area as “malilikot ang kamay,” or those with a tendency to steal.

Meanwhile, the three adult suspects claimed that the minors invited them to break into the school and asked them to help sell the stolen laptops.

Police said at least seven laptops were recovered.

The total value of the stolen items was estimated at around P1.2 million.