Vape Shop Attendant Seeks Justice After Sneak Thief Stole Her ‘Dream Phone’
A vape shop attendant in Quezon City seeks justice after her newly purchased cellphone was stolen by a suspected sneak thief.
On Monday (October 5, 2026), the victim briefly left the vape shop in Barangay Obrero unattended while washing her hands at a nearby faucet after eating. During those few moments, a man allegedly took advantage of the situation and carried out the theft.
Security camera footage showed the suspect suddenly appearing near the shop’s window. After checking the surroundings and making sure no one was watching, he quickly grabbed the cellphone and fled the area.
The stolen device was valued at around P22,000. For the victim, the loss was especially painful because she had owned the phone for only a month and was still paying for it in installments. The cellphone was something she had worked hard for and had long hoped to own.
Adding to her disappointment, she spent her 21st birthday at the barangay hall filing a blotter report instead of celebrating the occasion. She expressed frustration over the incident, saying it created a major burden for her.
The woman also shared that if the suspect truly needed help, he could have asked for assistance instead of taking something that did not belong to him.
“Lesson learned po sa akin, ‘wag na ‘wag mag-iiwan ng gamit at ‘wag magtitiwala sa isang lugar kahit na po may CCTV,” she said.
Authorities learned that before the theft, the same man was also seen on CCTV from a nearby eatery reportedly asking for donations for a deceased person. Investigators are now looking into whether this was part of a scheme used to gain people’s trust.
Barangay officials said they do not recognize the suspect and believe he may not be from the area. They also reminded residents and business owners to stay alert, especially with the holiday season approaching when theft and other scams often increase.
The barangay is now coordinating with the police to identify and arrest the suspect.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
