Manila, Philippines – Close circuit television cameras (CCTVs) are becoming an effective tool in catching criminals at work.

In Marikina, CCTVs helped security at the Riverside Mall arrest a suspect caught on camera stealing a wallet from the handbag of a woman at a fastfood restaurant.

In Pasay City, police were able to identify a suspect in the theft of a laptop from an employee of the bus line terminal.

Chief Inspector Earl Castillo, chief of the Marikina police Criminal Investigation Division, identified the suspect in the Riverside Mall theft as Teresa Rivera, 43, of Dela Alas Street, Pasay City.

Castillo said Rivera was caught on security cameras at the Riverside Mall stealing the wallet from the bag of Rowena Juanico of Dama de Noche Street, Townsville, Concepcion Uno, Marikina City.

Police said the theft occurred at around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday night at a Jollibee branch at the mall while the victim was lining up to order food.

Security guards monitoring the CCTV cameras saw the suspect opening Juanico’s handbag and sneak off with her wallet.

Security then radioed roving guards to accost the suspect before she got away.

The victim’s wallet which contained P12,000 was recovered from the suspect who was brought to the police stations where she is now detained awaiting charges.

Meanwhile, Pasay City police said they are now searching for John Arvic Bella, 29, of Barangay Sto. Niño, Camaligan, Camarines Sur, who was caught sneaking off with a bag containing a laptop by security cameras at the Philtranco Bus Liner terminal at the corner of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and Apelo Street.

The apparent theft happened last September 2 but the suspect was only discovered after a review of the videotape of the security cameras.

The P30,000 laptop is owned by Dick Callope, Philtranco ticketing officer, who kept it at the terminal’s employees quarters.

The terminal's dispatcher said he saw the suspect roaming around the station before the theft.