Hot pursuit on for mall burglar

CEBU, Philippines —  Authorities are conducting a hot pursuit operation to find the suspect who ransacked stores inside a mall in Barangay Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday.

Police have yet to check how much money and valuables were taken from the stores.

Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said the bolts of some stores were broken.

He said authorities are yet to determine as to how many stores were burglarized by the suspect since tenants are still conducting inventories.

The burglary was discovered at around 8 a.m. when the staff reported for work.

“Pag-report nila didto sa ilang office, nakita nga naguba ilang bolt so didto sila na-alarma. Maong pagkibaw nila, ila dayon gi-report. Wa dayon pasudli. Wala gi-open atoang establishment,” he said.

Chan, along with the police and other concerned agencies, inspected the establishment.

Customers were not allowed to go inside the mall due to an ongoing investigation, while tenants were permitted to check their stores.

Since police have seen no signs of forced entry, Chan said the suspect might stayed in the mall while waiting for it to close on Wednesday evening.

“Dako gyud possibility kay way nakita ang atoang kapulisan nga naa siya’y nagawsan, naa siya’y giguba nga nigawas siya. Wala gyud. Walay mga signs,” he said.

But Chan and the cops discovered a footprint on the rooftop at the backside of the mall, as well as a broken wall which was believed to be the exit point of the suspect.

Police have obtained the mall’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) footages that would help them identify the suspect. — KQD (FREEMAN)