Three minors were caught after stealing a bicycle worth ₱100,000 from a parking lot in Quezon City on Thursday, just past 5 PM.
CCTV footage captured two 16-year-old boys circling around the bicycle. Using a bolt cutter, they broke the cable lock. One of them, wearing a blue shirt, rode off with the bike.
In another CCTV angle, the teen in blue was about to leave the premises when a parking lot teller stopped him. His accomplice in a white shirt soon approached.
Moments later, the two abandoned the bicycle and attempted to flee but were intercepted by a security guard.
“The kids thought the parking ticket system only applied to motorcycles. When the teen tried to exit with the bike, he was asked for a parking ticket—he couldn’t produce one, so he was held,” explained Police Lt. Col. Angelito de Juan, commander of Project 4 Police Station.
Aside from the two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old who acted as the group’s lookout was also apprehended.
“When asked who owned the bike, they claimed it was theirs. That raised suspicion, prompting the teller to call security,” he added.
The rightful owner, a call center agent, was contacted and the bike was returned.
Police revealed that the minors came all the way from Quiapo. They were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for guidance and social intervention.
Due to frequent thefts in the area, the parking lot management has now made parking tickets mandatory even for bicycles.
Authorities remind cyclists to use heavy-duty locks and always park in secure, well-monitored areas to prevent theft.