A suspect behind the robbery involving a Japanese national was arrested by Makati City police after a follow-up operation on Tuesday.

The suspect identified as alias "Jomari”, 29, technician, was arrested past midnight following a reported theft of a luxury watch inside a residential condominium in Makati during an inspection.

The suspect was arrested "after an investigation linked him to a theft that occurred around 9:55 am the previous day during a scheduled inspection inside a condominium unit in Barangay San Antonio".

Based on police report on Wednesday, the victim, 53, a Japanese national, filed a complaint for the loss of a luxury watch, worth around P200,000, placed on a dining table inside the condominium after it went missing after the inspection team left.

A witness said that the suspect allegedly kept a close watch on the valuable items placed on the dining table of the victim.

After receiving the report, the Makati City police and the security personnel reviewed the CCTV footage that revealed that the suspect, alias "Jomari", paced repeatedly near the fire exit " appearing to hide an item inside his sling bag". The watch foam case was also found within the area.

"Although the watch itself was not recovered, the suspect later admitted during custodial procedures that he had disposed of the item", a police report said. Marie Manalili/DMS