Pawnshop loses P2 M to burglars

MANILA, Philippines - A pawnshop in Quezon City lost cash and pieces of jewelry worth more than P2 million following a burglary over the weekend.

Police said the break-in at VY Domingo Pawnshop along Regalado Avenue in Barangay Greater Lagro was discovered at past 4 a.m. on Sunday.

The pawnshop lost cash worth P22,460 and jewelry worth P2.3 million.

A burglary alarm sent policemen to the site of the pawnshop, where they saw – through a hole in the door – sacks and clothes piled up on the glass counter.

The shop’s staff told police it was left locked at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Police said the burglars gained entry through the rooftop of an adjacent vacant building by cutting its grills and breaking its walls. They then forcibly opened the pawnshop and destroyed all its security locks and surveillance cameras.

Once inside, they opened the vault with an acetylene torch.

Investigators recovered from the crime scene a hydraulic jack, three gas tanks, a vault cutter, an acetylene torch, a pair of pliers, a screw driver and hand gloves apparently used by the burglars.