US businessman loses $30k to pickpockets in Manila mall

MANILA, Philippines—A US-based businessman allegedly lost US$30,000 or approximately P1.3 million Monday evening to pickpockets while he was shopping for groceries at a mall in Manila.

Sherwin Tan, of Capitol Avenue, San Francisco, California, lodged on Monday a complaint with the Manila Police District (MPD) Moriones, Tondo, station 2 claiming that he was victimized by two female pickpockets.

Senior Police Officer 2 Cody Carmelo, MPD station 2 desk officer, said that Tan claimed the theft happened between 6:55 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. on Monday, inside the Robinson’s Supermarket at the Tutuban Center Mall along CM Recto Avenue in Tondo.

Tan’s complaint stated that he was shopping when two women pressed against him. The women had already gone when he noticed his cash missing from his bag, prompting him to report the alleged theft.

The desk officer pointed out that the case was turned over to the MPD theft and robbery section because of the large amount of the missing cash involved.

Personnel of the MPD unit, meanwhile, have begun conducting follow-up operations for the possible identification and arrest of the suspected pickpockets and the possible recovery of the allegedly stolen currency.