Divisoria snatcher falls

Police finally arrested a notorious snatcher, dubbed the “earring picker,” who had victimized countless shoppers in the Divisoria area during a follow-up operation in Tondo, Manila yesterday morning.

Superintendent Nelson Yabut, chief of the Meisic police station, said Hermie Flores, 35, is facing several complaints from Divisoria shoppers.

“This guy has slipped past my men several times. Now he will be facing countless charges to ensure his long stay in jail,” Yabut told The STAR.

He was caught yesterday after snatching the earrings of Francisca Dionisio, 49, while she was shopping in Divisoria. Dionisio said the suspect blocked her path, grabbed her diamond-studded earrings worth P30,000, then walked away.

Yabut said Flores was nabbed while playing a video karera machine at Baseco Compound in Tondo. Flores confessed to the crime but told police that one earring had been sold to a fence for P1,800. The other piece was lost, he said.

Police also picked up Edgardo Lazaro, 44, a pedicab driver, of Raxabago, Tondo, for buying stolen items.

Flores is facing multiple charges of robbery snatching, while Lazaro faces charges of violation of the anti-fencing law.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has tasked the Manila police to be on guard against snatchers in Divisoria after a woman personally sought his assistance after she suffered torn earlobes when her earrings were snatched.         – Nestor Etolle