Bus, pawnshop heists defy police ‘ber’ patrols

A bus robbery in Las Piñas City and a pawnshop burglary in Manila marred the first day of Metro Manila police’s intensified patrols for the "ber" months on Wednesday. The two incidents prompted Metro Manila police to reassure the public that it will fine-tune its efforts to ensure safety aboard public transport, particularly on passenger buses and jeepneys. “Yan ay aming itatama lahat, transportation security (We will make the necessary corrections to ensure transportation security)," said Director Leocadio Santiago Jr., chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in a radio dzBB interview Wednesday evening. Both incidents occurred just as the Metro Manila police deployed 1,000 additional personnel to intensify patrols in anticipation of robberies and thefts during the upcoming Yuletide season. In Las Piñas City, at least six armed men staged a daring daylight heist on a bus plying the Southmall-Lawton route. Police are trying to track down the men, who declared the holdup along the Alabang-Zapote Road in Pamplona I village and fled before responding police teams could arrive. A separate report on dzXL radio said the six were armed with cal-.38 revolvers and cal-.45 pistols. Initial investigation showed the men declared the holdup just as the bus was passing a gas station along Alabang-Zapote Road. None of the passengers was hurt. Meanwhile, in Manila, unidentified men made off with some P5 million worth of valuables after breaking into a pawnshop in the city's downtown area. A report on dzRH radio said the men left behind a bolt cutter at the pawnshop located at the corner of Tayuman and Abad Santos Streets. Initial investigation showed the men bored a hole in the ceiling to sneak into the establishment. Police have produced artist sketches of the suspects based on the description of the pawnshop owner, who said they had rented a room at the second floor of the building — right above his establishment — a month ago. - KBK, GMANews.TV