Nine persons believed to be responsible for a spate of theft incidents in Metro Cebu were arrested by police.
Police said the suspects are known for the modus operandi called “salisi”, “laglag barya” and “laglag susi.”
The suspects would usually drop coins or keys to distract their would-be victim.
First to fall was Rowel Tingson, who was arrested last Monday after victimizing Japanese jiu-jitsu instructor Hirasawa Hiroshi in a coffee shop in a mall on A.S. Fortuna Street in barangay Bakilid, Mandaue City.
Tingson allegedly stole the sling bag of Hiroshi, who was then taking a phone call.
The sling bag contained a laptop worth P60,000, an Acer cellphone worth P5,000 and P10,000 cash.
Hiroshi sought help from the mall security guards.
READ: ‘Laglag Barya’ gang strikes in Mandaue, Lapu
Police said Tingson passed the bag to a female cohort before they mingled with the shoppers.
Security guards eventually cornered Tingson, who yielded a sachet of suspected shabu, police said.
Police said Tingson squealed on the identities and whereabouts of his cohorts.
Operatives of the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the Mandaue City Police Office and the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office yesterday arrested Edna Garcia, the group’s alleged leader, and seven others.
They were identified as Jonar Alodria, Simplicio Conde, Rosalie “Bambie” Herodias, Arnold “Dodot” Losarito, Jody Lasong, Jomar Balwa and Mary Ann “Lalang” Abrasaldo.
Another cohort remains at large.