Men rob steak house - with steak knives

CEBU, Philippines - In a bizarre twist, two men robbed a restaurant they ate in at the Rivergate Complex, Gen. Maxilom Avenue, Barangay Kamputhaw yesterday afternoon.

Police described the robbers as decent-looking and English-speaking and even dined at the Black Angus Steak House for about two hours before declaring a hold-up.

Insp. Rolando Pinili of the Theft and Robbery Section said the unidentified robbers entered the establishment around 1 p.m. and ordered liquor and “pulutan” that amounted to more or less P3,000.

Pinili, based on the victims’ account, described one of the robbers as about 20 years old, 5’6” to 5’7” tall and slim. The other one was about 28 years old, about 5’9” to 5’11” tall, and largely built. Both men were fair-skinned and sported semi-bald haircuts, he added.

Pinili also said that both men were wearing long-sleeved polo shirts and denim pants. They also spoke in fluent English, according to the victims.

It was around 3 p.m., when there were no more customers aside from them when the two, armed with the steak knives they had used in eating, approached the cashier and declared a hold-up.

The cashier, Lanie Englatera, 30, a resident of Barangay Busay, Cebu City, handed over her cellular phone worth P10,000.

The owner of the establishment, John Ramon, 41, a resident of Poblacion, Liloan town, who was just beside Englatera, also handed over P5,000 cash to the robbers.

The establishment’s cook, Fritzie Rose Suan, 29, of B. Aranas St., Barangay Duljo-Fatima, was also forced to hand over her cellular phone worth P1,500.

Pinili said the two men, apparently drunk, parted ways and left the establishment casually. The policeman said the nearest guard to the establishment was the building guard who was several meters away.

The police official said the two men were not experienced criminals and might have just been carried away by their drunkenness.

“Aw, dili to sila mga professional. Mag-armas unta sila kung hustler pa gyud kay syempre di gyud sila paalkansi,” he said.

He added that the establishment was supposed to close their store at 2 p.m. but they waited for the said “customers” to get done drinking only to be robbed by them. –(FREEMAN)