NINE persons, including three women, were arrested for their alleged involvement in pickpocket incidents during the Sinulog revelry last Sunday.
Police first arrested Guillermo Diaz, whose cohorts were arrested in a follow-up operation.
Police described the suspects as “seasoned” pickpockets.
Police said Diaz tried to steal the iPhone 6 of a woman who was watching the Grand Parade on Mango Avenue.
Police said the woman, who asked not to be named, caught the man’s hand taking her cellphone from her bag then passed it to a cohort.
The woman grabbed the man’s hand and sought help from a policeman, who was deployed in the area.
The suspect was taken to the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office for questioning.
Based on the information given by Diaz, police were able to locate the pension house where the alleged cohorts stayed.
Several items, believed to have been stolen, were recovered from the pension house.
Arrested were Arvin Jan Ballesteros, 22; Renz Lester Boncalan, 26; Cindy Mercado; Carla Mendoza, 23; May Vilasco, 25; Adrian Lopez, 34; Cris Ramos Fernandez, 33; and Charizze Cruz Adriano, 24.
Chief Insp. David Señor, head of operations of CCPO, said Vilasco, one of the suspects, was involved in separate theft in Parañaque City.
Vilasco denied the allegation against him.