A police officer was unmasked as the alleged brains behind a series of apartment break-ins in broad daylight that occurred in Tagbilaran City – all in a span of one day.
Police Officer ll Jan Marvin Enriquez of the Guindulman Police Station was caught on closed circuit television (CCTV) mounted in one of the burglarized apartments.
Enriquez was also positively identified by an eyewitness, a nephew of Delmalyn Balagosa one of the victims who saw the cop leave upon sensing that he was observed.
Three other witnesses pointed at Enriquez as the person they saw breaking into the apartments of two of the victims.
Enriquez denied the accusations and chose to remain silent.
Bohol Police Provincial Director, Police Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin ordered Enriquez to report to his office and was arrested by Police Officer l Jason Jamoner of the Theft and Robbery Section of the Bohol Police Provincial Office
Previously assigned in Tagbilaran City and Valencia Police Stations, Enriquez, a six year police officer is now detained at the Tagbilaran City Police lock-up jail.
According to Police Superintendent George Vale, Tagbilaran City Police Chief, Enriquez modus was to knock at the door first to find out if someone was home before making the break-in.
Using a large vault cutter, Enriquez pried open doors, cut open cash and jewelry safes and chain locks.
Vale told DYRD Balita that they are still looking into the possibility that Enriquez was working alone or moved into the apartments with companions. Nobody except Enriquez appeared in the CCTV.
Stolen items estimated at P1 million were allegedly carted away by Enriquez which were not recovered by the police.
Six persons came home on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 and found their apartments ransacked in broad daylight.
Kenny Tarongoy, 22, single and a resident of Panadtaran, Candijay lost his Lenovo laptop valued at P25,000.00 and Seiko wristwatch worth P6,000.00 while a wife of a Japanese national, Jane Kanematsu, 41 from Imus, Cavite who left her apartment at Ang Mery Grace Sunouchi apartments and returned home to find out that the lock of the vault was forcibly opened where P600,000.00 worth of jewelries, a DSLR camera and two laptops were missing.
The apartment in Graham Ave, Booy district, rented by Catherine Leopando, 39, married was forced open and assorted jewelries worth P15,000.00 carted away.
Another apartment located at Graham Ave., corner Caingit Beach Road and leased to a lawyer, Atty. Lylani Gitgano who was then at work at the Public Attorney’s Office was not spared by the burglars after they brazenly broke into the building through the front door and got away with assorted jewelries, two cellphones and a Metro Bank passbook.
Police advised residents to be extra vigilant and exert extra efforts to lock their homes even as neighbors are encouraged to immediately report any persons acting suspicious. (Chito M. Visarra with reports from Rey Tutas)