Police arrest man for car theft

A warning for drivers who leave their car unlocked and the engine running even if it’s just for a few minutes.

The Department of Public Safety reported the arrest of 26-year-old Alastair Tmachul Augustino in connection with a vehicle theft that occurred late Sunday evening in San Vicente.

According a press release from DPS yesterday, the incident took place around 10:28pm last Oct. 13, when the victim parked her black Mazda CX-9 at the Ming Yang Store. She briefly left her unlocked vehicle with the engine still on to check on washers at the Fresh Laundromat. Upon returning, she saw her vehicle speeding away from the parking lot.

A few minutes later, a witness in Kagman called the DPS emergency line, reporting the sighting of the stolen Mazda sedan. Officers quickly tracked down the suspect, identified as Augustino. Augustino confessed to taking the vehicle, stating he had been drinking in Chalan Lau Lau and, feeling tired of walking, decided to steal the car.

Augustino was promptly arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including theft of vehicle, reckless driving, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He remains in custody at the Department of Corrections with bail set at $10,000.

In a social media post, the car theft victim thanked police for the recovery of her vehicle. She said she got a call from police last Monday, saying that her sedan was in Kagman. She immediately drove to the area and got lost a bit before meeting up with DPS officers who had her vehicle. Aside from police, she also thanked witnesses who helped track down her car and those in social media who gave her a lot of advise in managing her fear and anger following the carjacking of her vehicle. “It’s a wonderful [night],” she ended her post.

Alastair Tmachul Augustino