Cebu Police Crack Down on Snatching Spree, Uncover Online Gambling Links
In a series of targeted follow-up operations, police from the Talamban Police Station under the Cebu City Police Office have successfully apprehended snatchers in Barangay Lamac, Consolacion, and other areas, revealing a disturbing connection to online gambling addiction. The arrests came after reports of bag-snatching incidents involving ride-hailing app passengers, with suspects confessing to using stolen funds for gambling purposes.
Arrest in Consolacion Tied to High-Value Theft
The first suspect, identified as Carlbenjay Virtucio Barrientos, an adult resident of Barangay Lamac, Consolacion, was arrested at around 1:25 AM on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. This followed a snatching incident in Sityo Nasipit, Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, where a female victim, using the alias Izza and residing in Dreamhome Subdivision, Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City, had her bag stolen. According to investigations by the Talamban Police Station, the crime occurred at approximately 3:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026, while the victim was riding a ride-hailing motorcycle home. Another motorcycle pulled alongside at a stop light, and Barrientos snatched the bag containing two expensive cellphones and cash amounting to P40,000.
Although the victim attempted to pursue the suspect using the same ride-hailing service, they were unable to catch up, prompting a report to the Talamban police. Through CCTV camera footage and the victim's description of the route taken, authorities tracked Barrientos to a subdivision in Barangay Lamac, Consolacion. Police recovered the two cellphones, but only P2,000 of the original P40,000 remained, as the suspect admitted to spending the money. Barrientos confessed to being addicted to scatter, an online gambling game, and stated that the stolen cash was used for placing bets.
Additional Snatching Cases Highlight Gambling Motive
In a related incident, a 30-year-old man, also addicted to scatter, snatched a cellphone from a student while riding a public utility jeepney (PUJ). This event took place at around 9:00 AM on Monday, April 20, on Encarnacion Street, Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City. The suspect, using the alias Jayjay, a former call center agent from Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, was apprehended after the ride-hailing motorcycle involved in the incident chased and caught him. Jayjay admitted that he intended to sell the stolen cellphone and use the proceeds for gambling on scatter.
Another snatching case occurred on Natalio Bacalso Street in Barangay Lawaan 3, Talisay City, at 7:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026. The suspect, Nathaniel Balacano Tuazon, a 20-year-old single construction worker from Sityo Caduldolan, Barangay Lawaan 3, Talisay City, and originally from Barangay Balatucan, Mobo, Masbate Province, snatched a cellphone from a 23-year-old woman using the alias Rose. Talisay City police arrested Tuazon at 5:30 AM on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, after tracking him via CCTV footage from the area during a hot pursuit operation. The stolen cellphone was recovered and returned to the student victim.
These operations underscore a growing trend where snatching crimes are driven by addiction to online gambling, particularly scatter games, prompting increased police vigilance in Cebu and surrounding areas.
