Thieves strike in mall

CEBU, Philippines - A Japanese national lost more than P100,000 worth of cash and valuable items to unidentified person while having coffee with his girlfriend inside a mall in Barangay Luz last Saturday afternoon.

The victim was Akira Sugihara, 60, a native of Sizuoka City, Japan. He temporarily resides in Lapu-Lapu City. The victim reported the incident to the Theft and Robbery Section of Cebu City Police Office.

Sugihara said the incident happened past 12 noon inside a coffee shop in the mall. According to the victim, he placed his shoulder bag beside him while having coffee with his girlfriend.

The victim said he did not notice that somebody picked up his bag containing his Bulgari wallet worth P40,000, smartphone worth P20,000, Oakley sunglasses worth P15,000, and P50,000 cash.

Aside from Sugihara, a store inside the mall also lost at least P4,200 worth of merchandise to unidentified shoplifters on the same day.

The store representative Maribel Leopoldo, 25, also reported the incient to the TRS.

According to Leopoldo, the shoplifting incident happened at around 1:45 p.m. last Saturday. She said the salespersons were having their break when the unidentified couple with a minor, as seen on the security footage, stole some of the display.

The store lost 10 pieces of Worship Generation branded T-shirts with print, “GOD IS IN CONTROL”. Each of the t-shirt cost P420.  (FREEMAN)