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Russian tourists fall prey to burglar
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Posted on Mar 09 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
A Russian family who went sightseeing Wednesday afternoon at Tank Beach in Kagman III became the latest victim of beach burglars.
The tourists lost an Olympus waterproof camera worth $500, sunglasses worth $100, a toy car collection valued at over $500, a turtle handicraft souvenir worth $10, and three hotel room keys and towel cards.
Police officer Jason Tarkong said yesterday that witnesses saw a black 1990 Toyota Hilux pickup parked near Tank Beach before the crime was committed. The pickup was gone when the tourists discovered the burglary, he said.
Tarkong said the 25-year-old Russian man with his family went to the beach on Wednesday at 2pm aboard a rented 2009 Toyota Camry. The family locked the car as they took pictures at the beach for about 15 minutes.
When they returned to their car, they noticed that the vehicle’s rear window was broken and their personal items were missing.
The Department of Public Safety and Crime Stoppers are seeking help from the public. Contact the Crime Stoppers hotline at 234-7272 should you want to remain anonymous or use its website at www.nmicrimestoppers.net. Crime Stoppers pays up to $1,000 for any information leading to an arrest.
Crimes against tourists have been significantly increasing.
In October 2011, a Japanese couple who went sightseeing at Ladder Beach fell prey to a thief or thieves who took their valuables and other items.
Last Oct. 19, a car rented by a Norwegian tourist was burglarized at Ladder Beach.
A day prior to the Ladder Beach burglary, an unidentified man robbed an elderly Japanese couple who were playing golf at Mariana Country Club in Marpi.
On Oct. 10, an unidentified man also robbed a 51-year-old female who was with her daughter playing golf at Coral Ocean Point.
Last Oct. 11, an unidentified man armed with a screwdriver robbed a Russian female tourist and ran off with her rented car at Suicide Cliff in Marpi. The tourist lost her bag containing over $100 cash, $1,200 worth of digital camera, hotel keys, some documents, and other items.
Of these cases, only one was reportedly solved.
