Bank break-in an ‘inside job’

CEBU, Philippines - The reported burglary of a bank in Barangay Dawis Norte, Carmen, Cebu that resulted to the loss of P300,000 was an inside job, the town chief of police said yesterday.

Chief Insp. Alvin Balio, who conducted an ocular inspection of the Banco de Katipunan Foundation Incorporated bank, said he did not find any signs of forced entry.

It was initially found out that the culprits gained entry by destroying and removing the padlocks of the roll-up main door, which Balio said was probably set up to mislead them.

He said the establishment is also located along the road anyone who tried to destroy the door’s padlock would have been easily noticed.

The thieves also took with them a caliber .38 revolver with five bullets in its chamber, which was the service firearm of security guard Ryan Riveral, 30.

Balio said it appeared that the unknown burglars were familiar with the bank as they went straight to the vault and managed to steal the cash kept inside.

The burglars also knew that the bank’s closed-circuit television camera was not functioning and that the security guard renders duty only until 5 pm.

Balio shared his findings with bank manager Alfie Maribao, who discovered the burglary.

Maribao learned about the burglary after she found the padlock already destroyed when she and other employees reported for work at 7 a.m. last Thursday.

The police chief also informed the bank’s management of its security lapses, including the less sturdy locks to the door and the vault.

Maribao believed Balio’s theory, convinced that the culprits probably have a key or a duplicate key to the vault.

The bank only has six employees, including the security guard.

Balio recommended that all six undergo polygraph test at the National Bureau of Investigation to help in the investigation.— /RHM (FREEMAN)