Talisay Police Sues Suspected Wire Thief

The Talisay City police yesterday filed a criminal complaint against a 24-year-old man who it reportedy caught red-handed stealing city-owned assorted electrical wires.

Suspect Rhaf Keneth Manondo, 24, was arrested by PO1 James Cabrillos and Po1 Dennis Pena last Friday at the Cebu South Coastal Road Cansojong area after he was “caught in the act stealing the assorted wires. The police were roving in the said place when they chanced upon the suspect.

City general services office head Joan Vebar and city electrician Rudy Jimenez were named victims by the police.

This is not the first time that the city has lost wires causing brownouts in affected areas, which prompted it to post men in uniform in areas where these are installed. Wires of telephone and cable companies have also become helpless victims to the thieves, which resulted to the city council years ago to pass an ordinance penalizing individuals caught stealing wires, and junk shop owners who buy these.

Water meters, which are still being plucked out from the pipes regularly as evident in the Talisay City Police Station blotter, are also protected under this ordinance.

The wires have valuable materials like bronce or copper, which could be sold for hundreds per kilo. Water meters have also valuable metals in them.