All police stations in Negros Occidental have been put on heightened alert status following a mall robbery in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, Col. Rainerio De Chavez, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) director, said Wednesday, August 21.
He has directed the police to intensify their efforts in preventing similar crimes in the province, De Chavez said.
“Rest assured that NOCPPO will not ease up on the conduct of investigation until we put the culprits behind bars and expect that we will double our crime prevention and anti-criminality efforts,” he said.
About P1.3 million worth of cash and goods were stolen by robbers who entered the Gaisano Mall in Brgy. Palampas, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, through a tunnel, a police officer said Wednesday, August 21.
Capt. Honey Labaro, San Carlos Police Operations Officer, said they already have two persons of interest.
They are continuing to review CCTV footage inside the mall during the incident, she said.
The Gaisano Mall was robbed by suspects who passed through a tunnel they dug in order to enter the mall on Monday, the police said.
TWICE ROBBED
The police discovered the tunnel entrance at Grace Pharmacy located in the mall.
Labaro said that among the items stolen were cash, jewelry, cellphones, and tools estimated at P1.3 million.
Among the establishments at the mall that were robbed were Grace Pharmacy, Handyman, Galleon Enterprise Telecom, Belceña Jewelry, and Yung Luck Star Jewelry Store, the police reported.
The police have requested for Scene of the Crime Operatives to conduct crime scene processing of the establishment.
Labaro also said that investigation is still ongoing while the mall has resumed operations.
This is the second time that the mall has been robbed this year.
The first was reported in May where the robbers allegedly stole P450,600 in cash and goods.
NO STONE UNTURNED
De Chavez said he directed the San Carlos City Police Station “to leave no stone unturned in determining the identity of the robbers and to bring them to justice”.
NOCPPO is not remiss in its efforts to combat crimes, especially in the lean month of August where they expect spike in crimes against property, he said.
“After an attempted robbery incident in Bacolod City was foiled, we carefully analyzed the situation and set measures to avoid occurrence of the same in our area of responsibility”, De Chavez said.
Earlier this month an attempted robbery at a supermarket in Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, was reported.
The suspects, tagged as members of “Termite Gang”, dug a tunnel in an attempt to enter the supermarket.
Labaro said that they are investigating if the Bacolod and San Carlos incidents were carried out by the same persons.
De Chavez said that the San Carlos City Police Station has already launched a full-scale investigation into the incident.
He also appealed to the residents of San Carlos City to cooperate with the authorities by reporting information that could assist in the swift resolution of the case, De Chavez said.*