Cebu Daily News / Metro

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=150631

Thief steals P500T worth of jewelry and cash Cebu Daily News Posted date: July 25, 2008 A NOTORIOUS robber, who introduces himself as a relative of his “would-be victims”, is being hunted down by the police after stealing jewelry and cash amounting close to half a million pesos last Wednesday. Senior Insp. Michael Bastes, chief of Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) of the Cebu City Police Office, identified the suspect as Michael Tupas, 26, who fooled the house helpers of businessman Albert Yao, 57, in taking away P50,000 cash, a Rolex wristwatch worth P200,000 and assorted jewelry worth P200,000. According to Bastes, Tupas was arrested before for the same offense but was freed after posting a P20,000 bail. Bastes said Tupas went to the residence of Yao on the corner of Limkakeng Street and Andres Abellana extension in barangay Guadaupe, Cebu City, on board a red Toyota Vios with no plate number. Yao and his wife, Vicky, were not at home when Tupas arrived. The police said Tupas was met by the couple's house helpers. Tupas told a helper to accompany him to Labangon to pick up the package sent by Vicky's mother from abroad. When they arrived in Labangon, Tupas brought the helper to a carenderia. Tupas asked permission from the helper that he had to go back to Yao’s residence to get documents. Once in Yao's residence, Tupas told the other helper that he had to get documents from Vicky's room where the cash and jewelry were kept. Tupas even asked permission from the helper when he left. The helper only discovered that they were fooled by Tupas when their employers arrived. The helpers identified Tupas through a picture shown by the police. Bastes said Tupas is also wanted in Iloilo and Bacolod City. Bastes believed that Tupas is backed by a syndicate because of his capability to use a car in conducting his operation. /Correspondent Chito Aragon