Snatcher arrested in Makati through stolen phone's GPS
A 19-year-old man involved in a motorcycle snatching incident was arrested after police tracked the stolen mobile phone through its Global Positioning System (GPS) app in Makati City on Thursday, Aug. 28.
The arrested suspect in a phone snatching incident in Makati City. (Photo from Makati City Police Station)
The Makati City Police identified the suspect as “Raquim,” a resident of Pasay City.
Based on the investigation, the 25-year-old victim was waiting for public transport along Chino Roces Avenue in Barangay Pio Del Pilar at around 5:50 a.m. when the suspect, together with another man identified as “JJ,” on board a motorcycle, suddenly snatched her phone worth P83,990.
The victim immediately reported the incident to Sub-Station 3, prompting police to launch a follow-up operation using CCTV footage and the “Find My” GPS tracking app.
The phone’s signal was traced to Barangays 03 and 04 in Pasay City.
Upon arriving at the traced location, the victim spotted a Yamaha Mio 125 motorcycle that matched the suspects’ getaway vehicle. Its rider, wearing a white T-shirt and black helmet, also fit her description of the phone snatcher.
Police then arrested Raquim and recovered from him the stolen phone, the Yamaha Mio 125 motorcycle, two helmets, and the OR/CR of the motorcycle registered under a certain Jonathan.
Authorities said follow-up operations are ongoing to arrest the other suspect.
The arrested suspect is now detained at the Makati Custodial Facility and may face charges of theft under Article 308 of the Revised Penal Code, as well as violation of Republic Act No. 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, for using a motorcycle in the commission of a crime.