Korean store loses P100T to robbers

CEBU, Philippines - Two unidentified robbers barged into a Korean convenience store in Barangay Kasambagan yesterday dawn and locked up its three employees before running away with some P100,000 cash.

The robbers, who were wearing hooded jackets to cover their faces, commandeered the store’s freezer van to use as getaway vehicle.

The unidentified robbers disarmed security guard Elegio Buenaflor and locked him up inside the comfort room together with the cashier, Liezel Baldicana, and a helper. Store owner Lee Won Chul was no longer around when the robbers came.

Baldicana said she was manning the cashier’s booth when a tall man wearing a hooded jacket and blue pants entered the store at 3 am. The man pretended to buy cup noodles and asked her where to get hot water prompting the cashier to leave the cash register and show the man where the hot water disperser was.

But the man grabbed Baldicana by her neck and declared a holdup.

 â€œNangutana siya asa CR diri? Then gipasud ko niya didto. Unya naa man ang helper dapit sa freezer, iya sad giingnan sod diha og apil (He was asking where the CR was and ordered me to get inside. He saw the helper and ordered him to get in as well),”the cashier told police investigators.

The robber then approached the guard and inquired where the cashier was. When the guard went inside to look for the cashier, he was held at knifepoint and took his service firearm before he was locked inside the comfort room together with the cashier and the helper.

The man’s companion went to the cash register and took the store’s sales before fleeing on board the freezer van.

The robbers also broke into a nearby travel agency and reportedly carted away another P100,000 cash and laptop.

The robbery incident was captured by the security camera installed inside the store.

Police investigators believe that a former employee is behind the robbery.

“Mura man ug kanhi empleyado or higala siguro sa empleyado ang mitulis kay mura man siya ug suhito sa dapit (It looks like it was done by a former employee or a friend of an employee because he seems to be familiar with the place)”, said PO1 Ador Bacalso of the Mabolo Police Station.

It was also learned that the management fired a driver last week. — (FREEMAN)