3 suspects in Canton burglary are ex-cons

A teenager and two adults who were arrested during a burglary at the Canton Restaurant in Garapan Saturday morning are all ex-convicts, according to police.

In a news briefing yesterday, Police Officer 2 Jesse Stole said that Angel Chipwelong Ruben, Vince Camacho, and a 17-year-old boy have previous convictions.

Stole said Ruben was just released from prison in December.

Court records show that Ruben was arrested in 2004 for stabbing a man with a knife at the Liberation Carnival in Fishing Base. In 2006, Ruben was arrested for robbing a woman who was walking along Beach Road in Garapan. He also had other previous burglary and theft cases.

Public Safety Commissioner Claudio Norita said that Ruben, Camacho, and the juvenile were arrested by the same patrol officers—Chris Leon Guerrero and Edwin Aguon—who arrested robbery suspect Jesse Joseph Saralu Sunday morning.

Norita said that Leon Guerrero and Aguon had responded to a reported burglary in progress at the Canton Restaurant early Saturday morning.

Stole said that DPS Central had received a report at 2:58am from a security guard that a burglary was in progress at the restaurant.

“Officers Chris Leon Guerero and Edwin Aguon parked their vehicle at Martha’s Store then proceeded on foot to the other side,” Stole said.

The detective said the two officers met with the security guard across the road.

The guard, who was assigned at a neighboring establishment, informed the two officers he saw some men going to the backside of Canton Restaurant.

Officers Leon Guerrero and Aguon called for back-up unit. The officers, including the back-up units, secured all the exits of the restaurant.

Officer Leon Guerrero and another officer entered the building where they arrested the three, who tried to run and hide.

During the search, stolen items were recovered from the suspects, including a bottle of perfume, packages of Doublemint gums and candies, $3 in bills and coins, ladies wallet, mini flashlight, two lighters, nine AA batteries, a box of rubber band, and one chrome pliers.

The detective said that the owner of the restaurant, who was summoned to the scene, confirmed that the items found in the suspects’ possession belong to the establishment.

Stole said the suspects gained entry into the building by removing a glass from one of the windows at the rear of the restaurant.

Norita said his understanding is that Camacho and Ruben met in jail and became friends.

“And when they came out they formed this [group] and brought a juvenile into the picture,” Norita said.

Canton Restaurant, which has been operating on Saipan 24 yaers now, has been burglarized thrice in the past four months.

Canton Restaurant owner Carol Wong Chan said that, although they thank the police for the arrest, they are also appealing to law enforcers to conduct more patrol runs in Garapan because of rampant burglaries.

In response to the businesswoman’s appeal, the commissioner said he is the first person to admit the importance of conducting more patrols in the streets.

“Patrol is the backbone of the Department of Public Safety. In any good police work, patrol is the backbone,” Norita said.

He said DPS resources will definitely be committed to reinforcing the patrol unit.

“It is just an operational issue and putting bodies into that,” the commissioner said.