Thieves take cash and items from RTW store

CEBU, Philippines – Burglars have broken into an RTW store at the public market of Barangay Cogon East in the northern town of Carmen dawn last Monday, carting away cash and items amounting to P28,000.

Police said the burglars entered the store through the ceiling.

The store's owner, Hermehildo Florito, 30, said he lost the P10,000 from the cash register and several items, including men's pants worth P4,560; Sufra shoes worth P4,340; men's t-shirt worth P3,000; and two dozens of So-en underwear worth P840,000.

SPO2 Renerio Masocol of the Carmen Police said it is possible that the burglars are minors, as up to five establishments in the town have reportedly been robbed by minors recently.

The problem, he said, is that they could not place the respondents under arrest owing to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, the law that prohibits the arrest and filing of charges against minor offenders. The minor respondents were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Masocol said they will be requesting the help of barangay tanods to patrol the town from 10pm until 4am the next day, as most of the burglaries reportedly happened during this timeframe. 

"Di na man gud ma-cope up sa police kay less ug manpower so we need to tap barangay tanods," Masocol said.

They will also request for tanods to be stationed at the public market at night. The market's roll-up metal doors are locked at night, but burglars still manage to go in through the ceiling. (FREEMAN)