Motocops nab mall theft suspect in Pili

PILI, Camarines Sur — In swift response to a theft incident, operatives of the Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office (CSPPO) successfully apprehended a suspect during a hot pursuit operation along the highway in Caroyroyan, Pili, Camarines Sur at around 6:42 PM on June 22, 2025.

The arrest stemmed from a theft that occurred inside Robinsons Mall, Naga City, where the victim, a 23-year-old service crew member identified only as alias “Juvi”, temporarily left her cashier’s booth to use the comfort room. Upon returning, she discovered that her black cash box — containing an iPhone 13 and an undisclosed amount of cash — had been taken.

The victim promptly reported the incident to mall authorities and sought help from her boyfriend, alias “Jay”, who used the GPS tracking feature of the stolen phone. The device’s signal revealed that the suspect was heading towards Pili, Camarines Sur.

The information was relayed to PSSg Benji M. Callo and Pat Arvin E. Anacin, who were conducting Oplan Presensya patrol duties as Kaogma Motocops in Barangay Caroyroyan. With the aid of the phone’s tracker, the officers traced the device to a Bobis Liner bus bound for Tabaco City.

Inside the bus, authorities found the suspect — identified as alias “Jomar”, 41 years old, a widower and unemployed resident of F. Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong City — in possession of the stolen black cash box, including the victim’s iPhone and cash. The officers immediately placed him under arrest.

The response time between the call and the apprehension was recorded at just one minute, hitting the Philippine National Police’s target of under five minutes for crime incident responses.

The suspect was initially brought to the Pili Municipal Police Station before being turned over to Police Station 5, Naga City Police Office (NCPO), which has jurisdiction over the case. He was informed of his rights in a language he understands and remains in police custody pending the filing of appropriate charges.

The CSPPO, under the leadership of Provincial Director PCOL Virgilio O. Olalia Jr., emphasized its commitment to intensifying crime prevention and suppression efforts across the province. The public is urged to report any suspicious activity or crime incident to the nearest police station or through the CSPPO Hotline Numbers: 09701168707, 09996513177, and 09171599892. Reports may also be sent through the official Facebook page: Camarines Sur PNP PRO5.

BUSTED Handcuffed and under tight watch, theft suspect alias “Jomar” is escorted by Kaogma Motocops after his arrest during a hot pursuit operation in Pili, Camarines Sur.