Million-worth jewelry stolen

CEBU, Philippines - Burglars stole jewelry worth over a million from two houses in Cebu City on Friday, striking past police security for the All Souls’ Day.

Report of the Theft and Robbery Section showed the first burglary happened in Barangay Apas where suspects carted away P700,000 worth of jewelry.

Victim Eleanor Yu Lee, 35, a pastry chef, arrived home in Dagohoy St., San Antonio Village at past 8 p.m. and discovered her jewelry box missing.

The box contained assorted diamond earrings worth P200,000; bracelets worth P150,000; Chinese and Italian Gold necklaces worth P100,000; assorted pendant worth P100,000; and sets of ruby and jade earrings and necklaces worth P150,000.

Ocular investigation conducted by police showed that that burglar was able to reach the victim’s house by climbing through the concrete fence and passing through the barbwire.

The suspect then slashed the screen and detached the jalousie blades of the comfort room’s window and proceeded to the master’s bedroom, said TRS chief William Alicaba.

The suspect then took the jewelry box and soon left without taking the gadgets that could be seen in Lee’s room, Alicaba further said.

The TRS chief further said the burglary was possibly carried out at dawn while Lee’s parents and other family members were sleeping in their respective rooms.

Alicaba said street vendors outside the subdivision claimed that they noticed two men with faces concealed in cloth sneaking behind the victim’s house dawn on Saturday.

“Mao na’y gi-follow up nato kinsa nang mga nagtaptap kuno, although maglisod ta og trace ana,” he said.

He said the security camera at subdivision was not able to capture the burglars and the security guard did not also notice the burglary.

Meanwhile, burglars also managed to evade security at Casals Village in Barangay Kasambagan and divested one Ma. Theresa Arame, 35, of jewelry worth nearly P400,000.

Arame said she returned home at past 6 p.m. last Friday from the cemetery and discovered that window blades at her room have been detached.

She said she lost Chinese gold necklaces and bracelets, White Gold earrings, bracelets and necklace with pendants, and Singaporean rings all worth at least P388,000.

Before the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, police officials have reminded the public to secure their houses properly before leaving to the cemeteries.

A sufficient number of police personnel were deployed to different areas in Cebu City, but there is just not enough manpower to guard each and every house, police said.  (FREEMAN)