Society

2 Philippine men held in Macao for jewelry thefts

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-29 15:07

MACAO - Macao's Public Security Police (PSP) had arrested two men from the Philippines, who were allegedly involved in at least five separate cases of jewelry theft over the past five months, the Macao Post Daily reported on Tuesday.

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The duo, respectively aged 64 and 56, were arrested in a jewelry shop robbery in Monday morning, in which four suspects attempted to steal diamonds from the shop, the daily quoted a PSP spokesman as saying.

But only two of the alleged robbers, who were identified as Brian and Fidel, were arrested after the robbery took place, the other two have managed to escape. The four suspects came to Macao as tourists.

Preliminary investigation shows that the suspect quartet are believed to involve in at least four other jewelry thefts over the past few months, whose loot, with a total value of 1.2 million patacas ($150,000), included diamond rings and gold bracelets from different local jewelry shops and pawnshops, according to the spokesman.

In other failed robbery attempts, the suspects also tried to steal two luxurious watches worth HK$230,500 ($29,620) earlier this month, the spokesman also said.

The suspects have been transferred to the Macao Public Prosecution for further investigation and possible arraignment on theft charges.