‘Sex Bomb Gang’ preys on UAE national

The Manila police are looking for members of the “Sex Bomb Gang,” an all-female group of pickpockets who stole more than P170,000 in cash from a United Arab Emirates (UAE) businessman in Ermita, Manila, the other night.

SPO2 James Poso of the Manila Police District’s General Assignment and Investigation Section said the victim, 56-year-old Anter Salyem Mubarak Salmeen Alnuaimi, was robbed by eight women around 8 p.m. Wednesday outside Robinsons Place Manila.

Alnuaimi identified one of the thieves as Lani Velasco, a resident of Zaragosa Street in Tondo, Manila.

The police said that the Sex Bomb Gang members, named after the popular all-female dance group, all live in Tondo.

According to the victim, he lost his green leather wallet containing P45,000 and 10,000 Dirhams (almost P125,000) in cash, four ID cards, including a Philippine Tourism ID and two credit cards.

In his sworn statement, Alnuaimi said he went into a moneychanger’s shop in Ermita to get some of his money converted into pesos because he wanted to help out a Filipino friend who had lost his leg.

On his way out, three women blocked his path while five others bumped into him several times.

The victim said he later noticed that his wallet was missing after the women hurriedly fled in different directions.

Alnuaimi immediately reported the theft to the Pedro Gil police precinct where he was shown photos of the gang members. He later identified Velasco from one of the pictures shown by police.

According to him, he remembered the suspect because he “met her face-to-face … in a well-lit area.”

Two of the victim’s IDs, his Philippine tourist ID and one of his credit cards were returned to him after several hours when these were found by four Koreans who turned them over to the police precinct. The police said they have started looking for Velasco and the other gang members.