Robbers use hammers to steal jewelry in SM North EDSA. Security personnel of SM North EDSA cordon off the crime scene where a so-called “martilyo gang” struck on Sunday night, stealing jewelry on display and causing shoppers to panic. Jun Veneracion, GMA News
Mall security measures forged nearly a year ago in the aftermath of another martilyo gang heist were not implemented and may have made the jewelry robbery on Sunday at the SM North EDSA mall easier for the suspects to carry out, the Philippine National Police said.
PNP officials said procedures on the sale of hardware and the provision of improved CCTV security camera systems were among the measures that were apparently not taken seriously.
The PNP said hardware purchased inside the malls were supposed to have been turned over to buyers outside the mall premises.
Higher-resolution CCTV systems and constant monitoring of security videos were also agreed upon months ago, but the PNP said the poor quality of the video footage of the heist last Sunday is a clear indicator of the lack of compliance.
Grainy video of the Sunday robbery and a receipt showed that the suspects used a hammer and a crowbar purchased in the mall.
The MOA, which was forged with the Mall Security Managers Association, provided that shoppers who bought tools like hammers would claim their purchased items outside the mall, Raffy Tima reported on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho Monday evening.
Police also said one of the suspects in Sunday’s heist may have been involved in the robbery that happened in SM Megamall branch of the same jewelry company.
The PNP also said they are working various leads and angles, but declined to give specifics.
Aside from the Megamall incident last January, a robbery was pulled off on November 14, 2010 at SM City Bicutan. At least five people, including a three-year-old, were injured in a grenade explosion after robbers stole jewelry from a shop inside the mall. A hammer bought from a hardware store inside was used to break the glass jewelry case. — MJC/ELR/HS, GMA News
