Robbers strike while car owners are away

CEBU, Philippines - Robbers pounced on four cars by smashing their windows to steal money and other belongings of the owners in three separate incidents in Cebu City the other day.

The first incident happened around 4:45 pm at the Carmelite Monastery in barangay Mabolo where Guillermo Son III, 37 of barangay Talamban and Irish Ting, 29, of barangay Guadalupe were hearing mass.

Robbers smashed the right rear side window of Son’s black Mitsubishi Strada with plate number YHA-898 and took away his leather bag containing P700 and $5 cash, his driver’s license and credit cards.

The left rear side window of Ting’s Ford Everest with plate number JAT 77 was also smashed and robbers took away her wallet containing P15,000 cash and $100. She also lost her black laptop computer worth P40,000, a Chinabank check worth P30,000, credit card, SSS card and driver’s license.

The next incident happened shortly at 6pm inside Kart Zone in barangay Kasambagan where Grace Chang, 32, of barangay Mabolo, parked her Toyota Revo with plate number WTA 722. Robbers smashed the car’s left rear side window and took away Chang’s brown bag that contained two cellular phones, assorted keys and wallet, which contained cards and P10,000 cash.

At 8:50 pm, another incident was reported at the Pino Restaurant parking lot in barangay Lahug where Ken Anoba parked his Honda CRV with plate number GTG-800.

Robbers also smashed the car’s left rear side window and took away Anoba’s bag that contained a wallet with assorted cards and driver’s license; Nike shoes; Nike bag; I-Pod worth P18,000; and P4,000 cash.

Investigation showed that one of the culprits had enticed the security guard at the parking lot to help him find his lost key and brought the guard more or less 15 meters away from the victim’s vehicle. The restaurant promised to allow authorities to view the videos taken from the parking lot by its surveillance camera.

In the course of the investigation, the Mandaue City Police Office called Anoba through her cellular phone and brought her to MCPO to show her some items the suspects might have thrown at the North Reclamation Area. At the police station, Anoba recovered her other belongings except the cash, Ipod and shoes. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO (THE FREEMAN)