2 nabbed for tunneling into pawnshop

MANILA, Philippines - Two suspected members of the “Acetylene Gang” were arrested after they were caught tunneling into a pawnshop in Galas, Quezon City yesterday morning.

Reports received by Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Mario dela Vega identified the suspects as Reggie Balbakwa, 32, and Brandon Paltek, 26, both of La Trinidad, Benguet.

Four of their companions – including their alleged leader, a certain James James – were able to escape.

Reports from QCPD Station 11 state that stay-in cashier Regina Eden Magsanoc of Sunshine Pawnshop on Luzon Avenue called up police to ask for help. “I heard a noise inside and when I looked at the CCTV cameras, I saw the suspects so I called up the police station,” she said.

Police officers responded and were able to arrive early enough to catch Balbakwa and Paltek while they were still in the pawnshop. Seized from them were an acetylene tank, two saws, two chisels, a hand drill, a boltcutter, two crowbars, two headlamps, a screwdriver and the P100,000 they allegedly stole.

Investigators said the suspects had been renting an apartment 50 meters away from the pawnshop for a month. They said the suspects dug a tunnel from their apartment to the floor of the pawnshop.