Man in Quezon City Spends Birthday in Jail After Stealing to Fund Birthday Celebration

QUEZON CITY – A 24-year-old man who allegedly stole valuables to fund his birthday celebration was arrested and spends birthday in jail. 

On Tuesday evening (July 14, 2026), a thief spent his birthday behind bars after he was arrested for allegedly stealing a security guard’s sling bag containing a service firearm, cash, and other valuables in Quezon City. 

According to police investigators, the victim, a security guard, briefly stopped in front of a building to deliver important documents. He left his belongings inside his vehicle, which was parked with its hazard lights on.

While the guard was away, two men allegedly took advantage of the opportunity. Authorities said the suspects opened the vehicle and took the sling bag. The bag reportedly contained the guard’s service firearm, a mobile phone, and more than P1,000 in cash. 

When the victim returned, he realized that his belongings were missing. Witnesses in the area reportedly alerted him about the theft, prompting authorities to immediately review footage from nearby security cameras. 

“’Yung security guard umakyat sa taas… ‘yung sling bag niya sa sasakyan. Naalala lang niya… binalikan niya, sakto may sumigaw na ‘magnanakaw!’ Nag-check kami sa barangay ng CCTV, may dalawang lalaki na nagnakaw doon sa sling bag,” Kamuning Police Station Commander PLt. Col. Aljun Belista said.

The CCTV recordings helped investigators trace the suspects. The footage allegedly showed two men walking away from the area carrying the stolen bag. Police launched a follow-up operation that led to the arrest of one of the suspects early Wednesday morning (July 15). 

Authorities were able to recover the stolen firearm from the arrested man. However, the cash and cellphone were no longer in his possession. Police also seized an improvised firearm during the operation. 

In another post, a thief makes sign of the cross before robbery in Cainta

Investigators later discovered that the suspect had previous encounters with the law. Records showed that he had been linked to several theft cases in the past and had also faced a drug-related case. 

The suspect reportedly admitted his involvement in the theft. He said he wanted money to prepare food and celebrate his birthday the following day. Unfortunately, the suspect spent his birthday detention. 

He is now facing charges for theft and illegal possession of firearms, while authorities continue searching for his alleged accomplice. 

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