Authorities Arrest Church Volunteer for Stealing Scrap Metal Due to Hunger
A church volunteer was arrested for stealing scrap metal from a parking lot in Tondo, Manila, due to hunger.
On October 2, 2026, a 33-year-old man who claimed to be a volunteer and caretaker at a church was arrested after allegedly stealing a 15-kilogram piece of metal from a parking lot along C. Playa Street in Barangay 133, Balut.
According to authorities, the suspect took a cross member, a metal part of a truck’s chassis, and planned to sell it to a junk shop for around P3,000.
During the investigation, the man admitted that he had previously been involved in theft. However, he said he had stopped committing crimes after becoming active in church work. He explained that he was driven to steal again because he had not eaten for an entire day and was struggling to find food.
“Kaya nilako ko po yun kasi wala po akong pangkain… Isang araw po akong walang kain kaya nagawa ko po ‘yun,” the suspect said.
Security camera footage captured the suspect carrying a sack containing the stolen metal. Because of its weight, he was even seen stopping at a corner to rest before continuing on his way.
The victim later noticed the theft and reportedly shouted for help, alerting nearby residents. Several people responded and caught up with the suspect. According to police, some residents physically confronted him before officers arrived at the scene and stopped the situation from getting worse.
Authorities also discovered that this was not the first time the suspect had allegedly stolen from the same victim. Police said the complainant had previously shown compassion and chose not to pursue earlier incidents. However, the victim decided to file a formal complaint.
The stolen truck part was successfully recovered and returned to its owner. The suspect was brought to a hospital for a medical examination before being taken into police custody. He now faces a theft case while authorities continue to process the incident.
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