Cagayan de Oro City – May 26, 2025 — A robbery suspect was arrested in a swift police operation after a retired judge used an iPhone tracking app to help authorities trace the stolen device’s location, leading to the suspect’s apprehension early Monday morning in Cagayan de Oro City.
Police identified the complainant as a 72-year-old retired judge from Quezon City, who was staying in a subdivision in the Uptown area with two companions when the robbery occurred. At around 6:00 AM, he contacted Police Station 4 (PS4) in Carmen to report the incident, informing officers that they had tracked the location of the stolen iPhone through a built-in tracker.
Following the lead, PS4 officers, in coordination with Police Station 1 (PS1) Divisoria, conducted a hot pursuit operation and arrested the suspect—identified only by the alias “Boboy,” 20 years old, single, and a resident of Calaanan, Canitoan—on Pabayo Street, Barangay 3.
Recovered from the suspect were the stolen items, including an iPhone 12 valued at ₱30,000, an iPhone 11 worth ₱20,000, and a Samsung S711 touchscreen phone worth ₱36,000. Authorities also recovered a white wallet containing assorted currencies: $101 USD, 40 Canadian dollars, 10 Euros, and ₱3,300 in cash.
Initial investigation revealed that the break-in occurred around 5:00 AM, when the victims discovered that the kitchen’s sliding window had been forcibly opened and several gadgets were missing.
Further verification revealed that the suspect had an outstanding warrant of arrest for Theft, which was promptly served by the Divisoria police.
The suspect is currently detained at the Maharlika Detention Cell. Police are preparing a robbery case for filing in court.
PBGEN Jaysen C. De Guzman, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 10, lauded the collaboration between the victims and law enforcement.
“This successful arrest highlights how community cooperation, prompt action, and modern technology can work together to fight crime,” he said. “I commend the victims for their vigilance and our police units for their swift response. Let us continue working together to ensure a safer Northern Mindanao.”