Burglars hit pawnshop, take P1.1M in cash, gems

CEBU, Philippines- Over P1.1 million in cash and jewelry were lost when burglars attacked a pawnshop on J.P. Rizal Street in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City.

The robbery was discovered only yesterday morning when MSC Pawnshop staff were about to open their shop.

Police, however, believed the pawnshop could have been burglarized over the weekend.

The pawnshop, owned by Manuel Conde, is located just 500 meters away from the police station.

Basak Police Station chief Police Senior Inspector Genilo Veraque said the culprits were able to gain entry at the rooftop of the pawnshop’s comfort room.

“Didto ra niagi ang mga suspek sa luyo sa pawnshop, nipatong sa taas nga paril ug gilabnot ra ang nipis nga atop ug gabok nga plywood. Unya misud sila diretso padung sa opisina, unya dali ra kaayo nga naablihan gamit ang acetylene kay gabok na sad kaayo ang vault,” Veraque said.

Veraque said the items lost included the personal money of Conde worth P100,000 and P1 million worth of jewelry and valuables such as laptop and cellular phone.

According to Veraque, Conde takes his cash and jewelry to the pawnshop most of the time because no one is left in their house in Barangay Pagsabungan. He, however, forgot to take his money and valuables back home last Saturday.

Although the said pawnshop has three CCTV cameras, they were turned off over the weekend in an effort to save power.

“Namakak na siya permiro (referring to the owner). Ingon siya, gipawong sa mga suspek and CCTVs busa personal akong gilantaw nga motibo kay makit-an man gyud unta sa camera nga gipawong sa suspect, apan wa man gyud,” Veraque said.

Conde later admitted that he put the cameras off before he left despite an earlier advice from his son to do otherwise for security reasons.

Conde told Veraque that their clients have nothing to worry about because the lost items were insured. 

Veraque then advised Conde to set up an alarm system attached to the police station so that police could immediately respond to the alarm when nobody is around the shop to inform them.  (FREEMAN)