Unemployed man arrested for stealing gadgets from shopping mall

A 28-year-old man who was afraid of being abandoned by his partner due to unemployment decided to try his luck at a shopping mall in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, robbing customers at 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, 2024.

However, security guard Jason Tapdasan and his colleagues apprehended him and handed him over to the Mambaling Police Station after he was caught stealing a Samsung cellphone worth 20,000 pesos and an iPhone worth 30,000 pesos from 24-year-old Mary Alob, a single from Azienda Firenze, Barangay Maghaway, Talisay City.

The suspect was identified as Kyle Aganan, originally from Masbate but temporarily staying in Barangay Tabunok in Talisay.

During police questioning, Aganan claimed that since he was unemployed and frequently argued with his girlfriend, he decided to steal to make ends meet in case his girlfriend left him.

“Na-isipan ko na ito ang easy way kumita nang Pera! Akala ko kasi iiwan na niya ako kaya ako nagnakaw para may pera” Kyle said.

(I assumed it was an easy way to make money; I stole because I thought he would leave me.)

Police Lieutenant Revy Dean Basalan, deputy chief of the Mambaling Police Station, told SunStar Cebu that this was the second theft committed by Aganan at the mall.

The first crime occurred last week when he stole four cellphones and tablets, which he later sold for 8,000 pesos on Sanciangko Street.

Basalan convinced the other victims to go to the Mambaling Police Station to identify Aganan, who is expected to be charged with theft on Wednesday, August 6. (Public License, TPT)