Consolacion internet café robber nabbed, but gambled loot on Scatter

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 25-year-old man who allegedly broke into an internet café in Consolacion and stole four Pisonet coin boxes reportedly told the police that he had used the ₱8,000 loot to play the online gambling game “Scatter” before he was arrested hours later.

The suspect, identified by the alias “Cidrick,” remains in the custody of the Consolacion Municipal Police Station and is facing a complaint for robbery with force upon things.

Suspect admits to gambling loot on Scatter

In a Thursday, July 2, interview, Police Lieutenant Colonel John Kareen Escober, Acting Chief of the Consolacion Municipal Police Station, said the suspect admitted during questioning that he had already spent the money taken from the Pisonet coin boxes on Scatter.

“According sa amoang interview sa iyaha, iyaha na kunong gidula og Scatter,” he said. (According to our interview with him, he allegedly spent the money on Scatter.)

Escober also said a records check showed the suspect had no previous criminal record despite having lived in Barangay Tayud for some time.

CCTV footage leads to internet café robber

Police said the robbery occurred at around 12:56 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, after the suspect allegedly forced open the door of an internet café in Barangay Tayud.

Authorities said he took four Pisonet coin boxes valued at P20,000, which contained an estimated P8,000 in coins.

The theft was discovered later that morning when the owner opened the establishment, found the padlock damaged, and noticed the coin boxes were missing.

Police said the owner then reviewed the establishment’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, which captured the robbery.

READ: Nephew steals P2,500 from uncle to play ‘scatter’ in Cebu City

Barangay tanods help

According to police, Barangay Tanod David Enterina recognized the suspect from the CCTV footage as a tenant in Barangay Tayud.

Together with fellow barangay tanods Samuel Debalucos and Susano Judaya, Enterina conducted a follow-up operation that led to the suspect’s arrest.

Police later recovered the four stolen Pisonet coin boxes, which had been abandoned in a bushy area near the suspect’s residence.

However, the money inside the boxes was no longer recovered after the suspect allegedly admitted spending it on online gambling.

The suspect was arrested around 8 a.m. on Wednesday and was later turned over to the Consolacion Municipal Police Station for investigation and the filing of appropriate charges.

READ: Kin of man who died due to e-gambling Scatter testify before Senate

Business owners urged to install CCTVs

Police Brigadier General Arnold E. Abad, Regional Director of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said the case underscored the importance of CCTV cameras in helping authorities quickly identify suspects and expedite investigations.

He encouraged business owners and residents to install CCTV cameras in their establishments and homes, saying these serve not only as a deterrent to crime but also as valuable evidence in police investigations.

“We encourage business owners and residents to install CCTV cameras in their establishments and homes, as these serve not only as a deterrent to criminal activities but also as vital pieces of evidence that can significantly speed up investigations and the arrest of offenders,” Abad said in a statement.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

Read Next

Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.