Man breaks into bank But takes only computer peripherals, guard's gun

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A still unidentified man staged a burglary on a rural bank in Sta. Barbara town of Iloilo Sunday evening.

What was puzzling, however, was that he took time to take destroy the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) and took the computer’s hard drive, but did not attempt to look for cash or go near the bank’s vault.

From the footage of the bank’s CCTV, the burglar went through the vacant lot at the back portion of the bank and made his entrance by using the fire exit of the building. He forced open the padlocked sliding door with steel bar of the fire exit and easily gained entrance to the bank.

Inspector Elberto Pudadera, chief of the Sta. Barbara Police Station, noted that the burglar covered several CCTV cameras upon entering the bank’s premises, but forgot the one inside the bank.

“From the looks of it, he knew where the CCTV cameras were positioned. He just overlooked one that was inside the bank,” Pudadera said.

The CCTV footage revealed that the man destroyed two computer CPUs and took the hard discs. He then took one computer server, a DSL modem, a router, a network hub switch, and a .38-caliber revolver issued to the bank’s security guard, who was only on duty during banking hours.

Pudadera said security guard Jermel Cartagena only reported the incident to the police station at around 7:55 a.m. of Monday, July 16. Investigators were still on the process of enhancing the CCTV footage to identify the thief, he said.

In the absence of any compelling evidence and pending the identification of the burglar, Pudadera said they would treat the incident as plain robbery “because he indeed took several bank properties.”

Initial information pointed out to an alleged conflict among bank owners as the possible motive of the incident.

Aside from the reported conflict among the bank’s board members, police investigation will also look into the possible involvement of some dismissed employees. - THE FREEMAN