UST security guards arrested a man who tried to rob a Letran student last June 28 at the España overpass.
The victim, Crizelle Lauren Sahagun, 18, said she felt her bag being opened and was surprised to see a man opening her bag. Instead of shouting, Sahagun approached the UST guards stationed near the España overpass for help.
“Dapat sisigaw na ako noon ng “snatcher!” Kaya lang natakot ako baka may dala siyang patalim,” Sahagun said.
She described the man to the guards, who immediately caught the man they saw loitering on Lacson St.
The suspect, Alexander Gabriel, 40, did not resist arrest. He was taken to the Office for Security Affairs.
At first, Gabriel vehemently denied trying to take Sahagun’s belonging, but later admitted it after it was discovered that this was the third time he had been caught stealing.
Gabriel said financial problems drove him to attempt the crime.
Gabriel was first caught stealing last year along Lacson St., but was later released because there was no complaint. He also snatched a woman’s wallet last year at the UST Chapel.
Gabriel was later turned over to the Manila police.
Meanwhile last June 17, Central Student Council (CSC) treasurer Ryan Castro almost lost his Nokia 7110 cell phone to a snatcher at the pay parking area at around 2:30 p.m. Fortunately, suspect Rodel Napelisan, 35, of Narra St., Tondo, Manila never made it out of the campus as he was collared by Castro near the Arch of the Centuries with the help of construction workers.
According to Castro, he was working on the “Hip Tribe” contest of the CSC when the incident occurred.
“Pinatong ko lang ang cell phone ko sa table nang pulutin ko ang isang papel at napansin ko na nawala na ang cell ko,” narrated Castro.
Reizzah Rioja, who witnessed the incident, pointed to where Napelisan ran. Castro chased the suspect and caught Napelisan at the Benavides Park.
Apparently intoxicated, Napelisan immediately surrendered the phone but threatened to stab Castro if he did not back away. As Castro retreated, Napelisan again tried to run but this time construction workers helped and foiled his escape.
Castro plans to file a complaint against Napelisan.
After he was interrogated by the Office of Security Affairs, Napelisan was turned over to Precinct 4 of the Manila police.
