Korean couple loses cash, items inside mall

CEBU, Philippines - A Korean couple lost more than P40,000 worth of cash and valuables to a thief while eating in a fast-food chain inside a mall in Barangay Luz, Cebu City Friday afternoon.

Ji Woong Chang, 39, a native of Seoul, South Korea and his wife, who are currently staying at Shangri-La Hotel in Mactan, Cebu, immediately reported the incident to the Theft and Robbery Section of the Cebu City Police Office.

Initial investigation revealed that Chang was eating with his wife in a fast-food chain at around 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Chang put his things inside the sling bag of his wife, which was placed at the chair beside them. However, minutes later, they noticed that their bag was already gone and some witnesses told them that an unidentified person carted away with their bag.

Items stolen include a Samsung Digital Camera worth P11,800; an Apple iPad worth P11,800; a Prada wallet worth P15,850 and money worth P3,964. All items stolen amounted to P43,414.

Chief Inspector Señor, chief of the Theft and Robbery Section, said they will try to ask for a permit from the mall if they can view the footages from their closed-circuit television cameras, hoping that the incident was captured so they can identity and arrest the suspect.

Señor said they will also try to check if the persons responsible for the crime are also part of the nine hulog-hulog barya gang members who victimized the wife of a former city councilor and were arrested in Mandaue City in July.

He said they received information that six of the nine members, who were able to post bail, is now striking again in Cebu City but with a different modus operandi which is pickpocketing mostly inside malls.

Señor reminded the public to be always vigilant at all times, even inside malls since the robbers would strike anywhere.  —/ATO (FREEMAN)