Police arrest minor who stole vault from hotel amid Sunday protest
The minor who stole a safety vault from a hotel as protesters clashed with authorities and vandalized nearby establishments during the Sept. 21 protests has been arrested, the Manila Police District (MPD) said.
The minor caught on CCTV taking the vault from the hotel. (Photo courtesy of MPD)
Following swift coordination between Barangay 310 officials and the MPD and a backtracking of CCTV footage from the area, authorities were able to trace the minor’s whereabouts which led to his arrest.
Authorities are now investigating whether the theft was a spur-of-the-moment crime brought on by the chaos or if it had been planned under the cover of unrest.
Police said the disturbance stemmed from an escalated protest that spilled over into commercial areas, including the hotel.
Amid the panic and disruption, hotel staff were caught off guard as the suspect, a minor, slipped into the premises and took the vault.
The hotel’s officer-in-charge later confirmed that the vault had been emptied by the time authorities arrived.
A security guard assigned to the hotel sustained injuries during the incident and was immediately rushed to a hospital for medical treatment.
The hotel management has assured the public that additional security measures are being put in place to prevent similar security breaches in the future.