Serial Pickpocket Jailed with Accomplice
By Vir B. Lumicao
A Filipino tourist was sentenced to jail for 3 1/2 years for his lead role in a botched pickpocketing in Tsim Sha Tsui on Aug 1, while his partner-in-crime, a Filipina, drew 12 months.
Jeric F. Abiera, 44, and Jennifer C. Manio, 33, were sentenced by Judge Eddie Yip after they both pleaded guilty to each of the charges against them.
Abiera, a repeat offender who had used six aliases, pleaded guilty to charges of theft and breach of deportation order, while Manio admitted to a charge of theft.
The duo were arrested on Aug 1 after they stole the purse of a female target as the victim and her husband were walking out of the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station in the morning rush hour.
Abiera and Manio arrived in Hong Kong on the same flight from Manila the day before.
Manio told police investigators that she came to Hong Kong to cool off after a fight with her husband. She stayed in a $200-a-night guesthouse on Nathan Road where Abiera also checked in. They met the next day when Abiera reportedly asked her direction because he was not familiar with the city.
Abiera then invited Manio to join him in committing the crime so she could make extra money, the prosecution said.
The report said a police officer on patrol saw the two watch people passing by on their way to the Jordan MTR station. Then the officer saw Abiera pointing with his lips to Manio a couple walking towards the station with the woman carrying a shoulder bag.
The two thieves tailed the couple to the station and into the train. When the couple got off in Tsim Sha Tsui, they followed and Manio discreetly unzipped the target’s shoulder bag halfway with a folding fan as they went up the escalator.
Then Abiera completed the operation with his right hand dipping into the bag for the woman’s purse, which contained $1,854.90, a Mastercard credit card and 23.50 patacas.
The officer, who also tailed the thieves, radioed other officers who pounced on the two Filipinos after they stepped out of the Tsim Sha Tsui station.
The prosecution said Abiera previously appeared five times in Hong Kong courts and had 12 convictions for theft, attempted theft, one conspiracy to steal, as well as other offenses related to pickpocketing. He had a deportation order dated June 13, 1998 and was last convicted nine years ago.
On the other hand, this was Manio’s first conviction in Hong Kong, the prosecutor said.
In sentencing, Yip cited four aggravating circumstances: the offense being committed in a crowded commercial area during the rush hour, joint enterprise with paraphernalia, international element and, for Abiera, repeat offense.