EPD to enforce hammer ban in malls

MANILA, Philippines - The Eastern Police District (EPD) will strictly enforce a ban on hammers, sunglasses and baseball caps in malls to address the expected rise in crimes during the “ber” months, an official said Friday.

The ban on these items was implemented last year following a rash of robberies in which the perpetrators brought hammers to smash the display cases of jewelry stores in shopping malls in Quezon City, Makati City and Pasay City.

The robbers wore sunglasses and baseball caps to prevent surveillance cameras from getting an image of their faces.

EPD chief Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias said he met with the Metro East Coordinating Council – whose members are security managers of malls, hotels and restaurants in the eastern part of Metro Manila – and asked for their cooperation in enforcing the ban.

“We are expecting the heavy influx of shoppers in malls these ‘ber’ months so we are implementing preventive measures and one of them is the hammer ban,” he said.

The members of the council agreed that police officers would man assistance desks at mall entrances while security guards will patrol mall premises.

Jamias said the EPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics unit and police stations in Marikina, Pasig, San Juan and Mandaluyong will be on alert round-the-clock to respond to emergency situations such as robberies and hostage-takings in malls.