Police recovered the car radiator allegedly stolen from a police officer's vehicle in Quezon City. (Photo courtesy of QCPD)
Police arrested a 41-year-old man for allegedly stealing a car radiator worth P3,500 from the vehicle of a police officer in Barangay Maharlika, Quezon City, on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
The suspect, identified only as alias “JM,” allegedly took the radiator from a vehicle parked outside an automotive service establishment on Mayon Street at around 9:20 p.m.
Police said the victim, a police officer, had brought his vehicle to the establishment for repair due to a defective radiator.
While the vehicle was being serviced, the victim temporarily placed the radiator on the cemented pavement outside the establishment before briefly going inside.
When he returned, he discovered that the radiator was missing.
The victim immediately sought assistance from personnel of the La Loma Police Station (PS 1), who were conducting patrol operations in the area.
The responding officers and the victim conducted a roving search in the vicinity, which led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of the stolen radiator from his possession.
Police records showed that the suspect had a previous case for an alleged violation of Republic Act No. 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, in June 2024, and cases involving Presidential Decree No. 1602 (illegal gambling), Republic Act No. 10591 (firearms law), and City Ordinance No. 5121 (anti-deadly weapons measure) in April 2018.
The suspect is facing a theft charge before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.