CEBU, Philippines — The police are calling on the public, especially the seniors, to be extra careful while getting cash from automated teller machines (ATM).
A 35-year-old woman was caught allegedly stealing cash by putting a super-glue gel on the card reader slot of an ATM so that the cash will be stuck in the dispenser.
Lunalyn De Pedro, from Iloilo City, was caught yesterday by one of the bank employees at around 11 a.m. in a mall in Mandaue City.
Supt. Julian Entoma, director of Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO), said De Pedro is a member of group called "Glue Gang," which targets those people having cash withdrawal from ATM kiosks.
Entoma explained that they usually target the seniors. They will offer help to transact but they will apply super glue on the card reader slot.
Once an ATM transaction is completed, the card is ejected first. But because of the glue that stuck in the card reader slot, the cash will not be dispensed.
"Pagkahuman, moingon dayon (ang nibuhat sa modus) nga ‘uy, wala man mogawas ang ATM.’ Siyempre, moreklamo ang tag-iya mismo sa ATM (didto sa banko). Iya ra tong modus para malipat (ang tag-iya sa ATM)," Entoma explained.
The gang member would then change the pin code of the ATM, according to Entoma.
De Pedro was caught by the bank employee who was there to reload the machine with cash.
The employee reported the matter to Subangdaku Police Station 2 that resulted in De Pedro's arrest.
"Kunwari magpila ni sila diha sa ATM then ilahang biktimahon kani atong mga senior citizens na mag withdraw og kwarta. Padung sila mo assist kunohay, actually ilaha ra to kuhaon ang katong naa sa sulod," Entoma explained.
De Pedro, who just arrived in Cebu last Sunday, denied the allegations.
But Entoma said that De Pedro has also victimized a number of people in Capiz, Iloilo City, and Bacolod City.
"Daghan nabiktima na ani. Sa Cebu City, duna na silay nabiktima. Definitely dako ni mga grupo. Daghan ni silang kauban, lipat-lipaton ka lang," Entoma added.
Seized from De Pedro were two ATM cards and P1,000 cash believed to have come from the ATM cash dispenser.
Entoma reminds those who will withdraw cash from ATM kiosks not to let any suspicious stranger help them in doing the transaction.
"Mao ni atong ipahimangno sa mga tawo nga nanag-iya og ATM nga dili gyud basta-basta ihatag ang ATM para dili mabiktima sa aning Glue Gang," Entoma said.
MCPO is waiting for other victims to visit the office to identify De Pedro.
De Pedro is detained in MCPO holding cell. (FREEMAN)