Police alarmed by spate of theft cases at new mall

CEBU, Philippines – At least 10 cases of theft have been reported since last week at the new mall in the South Road Properties that is scheduled to start operation by the end of the month.

The police considered the incidents to be alarming because most of the suspects were construction workers.

Senior Inspector Regino Maramag Jr., acting chief of the Mambaling Police Station, said the series of theft incidents inside SM Seaside Mall is alarming because the suspects were not aware that it is a crime for them to be bringing home the excess wires that were left at the construction site.

"May mga wire kasi diyan na pakalat-kalat na lang. Akala siguro nila, pwede nang kunin," Maramag said.

"Nalooy ko kay even ang one meter lang of wire dakpon na sa mga security guards," he added.

Maramag warned the construction workers and other employees working in the new mall not to bring home any scrap from the new mall because they could be charged with qualified theft.

Maramag said that on Friday five men were detained at the station after they were turned over by the security guards who caught them stealing electric wires.

"According to them, marami pa nga raw cases doon na hindi pa na-turn over dito sa police station," said Maramag. —/FPL (FREEMAN)