Burglars tunnel their way to pawnshop, take P3 million

MANILA, Philippines - A couple lost P3 million in cash and jewelry to at least five men who broke into their pawnshop through a 50-meter tunnel in Marikina City Friday.

The robbery was discovered Saturday when Arnaldo and Marissa Calderon opened their Marnel Pawnshop and Jewelry Store at 211 Shoe Avenue in Barangay Sto. Nino.

The suspects also destroyed the steel door of a room in the pawnshop using an acetylene tank and carted a vault containing P1 million in cash and P2 million worth of pawned jewelry and communication gadgets including cellular phones.

Responding policemen recovered a portable acetylene tank, oxygen tank, hydraulic jack, crowbar, manual drill, cutter and tent that the suspects used to break into the pawnshop.

Initial investigation conducted by PO3 Bueneres Cruz Jr. of the Marikina police investigation division showed that the suspects dug a tunnel along the Marikina Bridge and connected it to a drainage that ended in the pawnshop.

Cruz said nobody could have heard the sound of the diggings because the establishment was located near a parking area of passenger jeepneys plying the Rodrigues (Montalban) Antipolo and Pasig routes.