Cebu Police Crack Down on Sophisticated iPhone Theft Operation
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has successfully dismantled a criminal group believed to be a primary source in the illicit trade of stolen iPhones within the city. This breakthrough came after authorities raided three rooms in a building located on Leon Kilat Street, Barangay Pahina Central, last Wednesday.
Arrests and Ongoing Manhunt
Two individuals were apprehended during the operation, while police continue to pursue other members of the syndicate who are reportedly not native residents of Cebu. According to Police Colonel George Ylanan, chief of the CCPO, this group possessed exceptional technical expertise, enabling them to breach Apple's firewall—a feat considered difficult for ordinary technicians.
Modus Operandi and Investigation Details
Based on investigations conducted by the City Intelligence Unit (CIU) and the City Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU), the suspects would purchase stolen iPhones for as low as P5,000 per unit. Utilizing their IT knowledge, they would then reprogram the devices to erase the previous iCloud accounts or security locks. The phones were subsequently resold at a mall in the downtown area, appearing as if they were brand new.
Law enforcement officers managed to confiscate a total of 154 cellular phones during the raid. To date, nearly 100 owners have positively identified their stolen units through GPS tracking or the "Find My iPhone" feature, which led authorities directly to the Leon Kilat Street location.
Victim Testimony and Recovery Efforts
One victim shared that his iPhone 16 Pro went missing at a mall in the South Road Properties (SRP) last week after he was bumped by unidentified individuals. He only discovered his phone had been recovered after seeing it in a social media post by the police.
The search continues for two additional suspects who managed to evade capture. Authorities are also investigating the owner of the repair shop that rented out the rooms used in the illegal operation.
Legal and Administrative Actions
In a related development, the Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO) has issued a show cause order to the building owner after it was found to be operating without a proper business permit. The suspects are set to face charges for violating the Anti-Fencing Law, which penalizes the buying and selling of stolen goods.
