P1.4-M of cellphones robbed

At least P1.37 million worth of cellular phones and accessories were lost after a group of still unidentified men robbed a parked delivery van the other day inside the parking lot of SM Fairview, Quezon City.

Manhunt operations have been launched against the robbers, who forcibly opened a delivery Hyundai van (XCH-448) owned by Ximex Express – a supplier of the Globe Business Center.

About 75 Nokia mobile phone units and 1,000 Isla sim card packs were stolen. Police sources said that they are looking into the possibility of an "inside job."

Reports showed that the incident occurred at about 11:30 a.m. at the second floor of the mall’s delivery parking lot. Company driver Cesar Manuel, 33, and helper Allan Rodolfo, 31, were then asked by a security guard to transfer to a "new parking space" — a few meters from where they parked the vehicle.

Rodolfo and Manuel complied, locked the van, and then went to the Globe Business Center inside the mall to advise the manager that they have arrived to deliver the phone units.

When the two men returned to the vehicle, however, they found the van’s windows and doors forcibly opened and all of the mobile phones and accessories were missing.

Investigators said that the security guards detailed in the area claimed they did not see anyone approach the van after Rodolfo and Manuel left it in the parking lot. Follow-up operations are now being conducted. –Matthew Estabillo