Burglars botch Caloocan bank break-in

MANILA, Philippines - Burglars broke into a branch of the Asia United Bank in Caloocan City before dawn yesterday, but left empty-handed as police arrived within five minutes after the bank’s security alarm was triggered.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Jude Santos said the burglars scaled the back wall of the bank at around 4:30 a.m. then tried but failed to open the cash slot of the automated teller machine.

The burglars then forced open the main entrance’s accordion door, triggering the bank’s security alarm, which is connected to the local police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) office.

SWAT commander Chief Inspector Gaylord Tamayo and his men said they were at the bank in less than five minutes “but the suspects were no longer in the area. I’m sure they have lookouts that alerted them when they saw cops were coming.”

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Soriano, city police intelligence and investigation chief, said no security guard was on duty when the break-in occurred. He added that the bank has no surveillance camera.

Soriano said the suspects could have taken advantage of the situation wherein most policemen were securing churches for the dawn Mass.