3-1-2024 (MANILA) Philippine authorities are currently in pursuit of a group of thieves who executed a daring heist by tunneling into a mall and absconding with approximately 41 million pesos (equivalent to S$976,000) worth of jewelry and cash. The incident occurred on December 31, 2023, at Gaisano Mall in Ozamiz City, located approximately 783 kilometers from Manila, according to reports from online news site Rappler.
Police officials revealed that the perpetrators initiated their operation by constructing a tunnel within a carnival situated in a private compound adjacent to the mall. From there, they dug a hole that led to a drainage canal, ultimately granting them access to a food court within the mall, as reported by ABS-CBN.
Once inside the mall, the thieves forcefully breached a MetroBank automated teller machine, making off with 80,000 pesos in cash. They subsequently targeted the vaults and glass showcases of GKC Jewellery and Oro Italia Fine Jewellery, seizing an estimated 41 million pesos in jewelry and cash. After completing their theft, the culprits swiftly fled the premises.
The robbery came to light when a mall employee discovered the scene at 11 a.m. on January 1, as reported by ABS-CBN. The identity of the thieves remains unknown, and no arrests have been made thus far. However, authorities have apprehended a carnival worker named April John Permanhil, whom they suspect of aiding the group on New Year’s Eve.
