BACOOR CITY, Cavite – A convenience store in Barangay Molino 3 here suffered a double whammy when it was robbed of appliances, machines, and other items after it had shut down its operations.
The Bacoor City Police Station (CPS) received a report about the crime from the area supervisor of the convenience store chain on Wednesday, April 27.
According to the area supervisor, a witness turned to barangay officials on April 1 to report the suspect, Emman Songalla, who was seen selling items taken from the convenience store.
The convenience store temporarily stopped its operations due to business permit issues.
Barangay officials immediately alerted the area supervisor about the report. They also went to confront Songalla but the suspect has already fled.
The area supervisor had to wait for the full inventory of stolen items from the company's head office before filing an official report with the Bacoor CPS.
A total of 13 items were stolen from the store, including a soft-serve ice cream dispenser, slushie machine, commercial coffee machine, microwave, computer set, and two inverter air conditioners.
During the ocular inspection at the crime scene, police found that the store's side steel door was forcibly opened.
"Tingin namin, unti-unti, hindi isang araw lang nangyari. Walang makakahalata, walang guwardiya. Tingin ko tuwing gabi 'yan. (We think he did it gradually, it was not done in one day. No one would notice, there was no guard. I think it was done over several nights)," Sgt. Bernie T. Rusiana told the Manila Bulletin.
The suspect is currently at large and is facing robbery charges.