After weeks of pretending to be the relatives of at least 12 different families in Negros Occidental, tricking house helpers, running around in rented cars, and stealing an estimated P2 million in cash and valuables, a couple suspected to be swindling culprits were arrested in a seaside barangay in Talisay City, late Wednesday, the police said yesterday.

The amount of the stolen money and properties, the police said, could be higher if only all of those who have been victimized would report their losses.

Arrested were Michael Ray Contreras, 27, and Sheila Luable, 21, who allegedly tricked helpers to believe they were relatives of their employees to gain entry into the houses they robbed, the police said.

The police said at least 10 complainants – five each from police stations 3 and 4 – are expected to file swindling charges against them starting today.

A woman from Murcia town, in the province, who lost P90,000 worth of jewels to Contreras, said, she will also lodge cases against him.

POSTAL ID

The two were on the way to Luable’s family home in Brgy. Bubog, Talisay City at about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, on board a rented green Isuzu Crosswind, when a team of law enforcers arrested them, Police Station 3 commander, Chief Inspector Leonardo Borromeo, said.

Borromeo, who led the operation, said the couple’s arrest came after Montebello Subdivision watchman, Francisco Bentad, recognized Luable through her postal ID that she left at the subdivision’s entrance when they went there to stage one of their last two heists Wednesday.

Pretending to be the nephew of Fr. Felix Martinito, Contreras rummaged through and packed the priest’s belongings, including a number of his robes, while Luable talked to the househelp, Noela Jean, at about 11 a.m., the latter’s mother, Memia, said.

About an hour later, they barged into the house of Elmer Lanoy at Victorina Heights, Brgy. Mansilingan, and took a laptop computer, a cellphone, and a .45 caliber pistol, with Contreras poking a knife at the neck of helper Sheryl Mahinay, 21, who was interviewed by reporters yesterday.

While Contreras’ facial sketch by the National Bureau of Investigation have been circulated, Borromeo said they resorted to “trial and error” to find out if Luable was indeed his accomplice until they decided to wait for them in Brgy. Bubog.

ADMITTANCE, DENIAL

As complainants arrived at Police Station 3 to identify Contreras and ask where he had sold or disposed their properties yesterday, the suspect switched between being indignant and regretful, admitting his activities and denying them depending on whether a victim was confrontational or not.

A man from Brgy. Tangub, Bacolod, identified only through his surname, Gorrea, requested Contreras to tell him where he sold his laptop computer that contained the photos of his children from their birth until present.

“We don’t need the laptop. It’s old and broken anyway. Just give the pictures back,” Gorrea, who refused to give his first name, said.

Lanoy, meanwhile, told Contreras to just return his P80,000 laptop or he will harm him.

“Just give me my laptop so nothing will happen to you,” Lanoy said.

As three Bacolod City Police Office Intelligence and Investigation Branch operatives questioned him at the precinct’s detention cell, Contreras, who said he is from Pasay City, Metro Manila, mumbled something about drugs to be among the reasons behind his illegal activities.

‘GOOD CHILD’

“She’s a good child,” Luable’s mother, Corazon told the DAILY STAR yesterday.

She said Sheila, who won the Miss Tourism crown in Silay City in 2003, started dating Contreras about three months ago after they met at a disco outfit at the Goldenfields Commercial Complex in Bacolod, and that she had repeatedly told her to stop helping him steal.

Police records show there are times when Contreras swindled people alone.

Sheila, the seventh among nine children, has been in and out of school because of financial difficulties, the older Luable said.

“She must have really loved him…I love her, too,” Corazon said of her daughter.

Still undergoing investigation at the office of the BCPO Women’s and Children’s Concerns Desk where she was taken into custody, Sheila, a B.S. Information Technology major, refused to discuss anything about Contreras’ and her activities aside from confirming that they are lovers.

BCPO-WCCD chief, Inspector Leilani Garcia, refused to say anything about their investigation, saying the probe is still ongoing.

Meanwhile, BCPO director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, said, they are now working to recover the things stolen by the couple from their victims.*PP

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