CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police arrested a 39-year-old unemployed man on Monday night after he allegedly stole two Fudgee Barr chocolate snack cakes worth only ₱26 from a 7-Eleven convenience store.

Authorities identified the suspect as “Charles,” a resident of Dinagat Island. According to police reports, a store clerk witnessed Charles take the snack cakes and leave without paying at a branch located on Salvador Extension Street, Barangay Labangon. The incident was immediately reported to the local barangay tanods, who assisted in apprehending the suspect. Charles was brought to the Labangon Police Station, where he is currently in custody.

In his statement, Charles explained that he was hungry and had no money to buy food at the time. Police have filed theft charges against him, and the case is now pending further investigation.

This case highlights a broader social issue: the intersection of poverty and petty crime. While the act may seem minor in monetary terms, it raises questions about the systemic factors that push vulnerable individuals toward desperate measures. Can society balance law enforcement with addressing the underlying causes of poverty that often lead people to commit minor offenses? And how can local governments better support those in need to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place? (Larawan mula sa: Philippines Watch / Facebook)