BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO

Three unidentified men broke into a convenience store in Barangay St. Joseph Village, Navy Base, Baguio City, in the early hours of May 13, stealing 30,000 pesos in cash and various canned goods. The burglary was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV).

According to the footage, one of the suspects entered the store past 3:00 AM after forcibly opening the lock on the sliding folding door.

He was soon joined by two other accomplices.

The men took coins stored in a plastic bag, grabbed items from a box, and passed them to a third companion waiting outside.

The store owner only discovered the break-in later that morning. “I couldn’t even eat. I kept thinking about how hard I worked just to earn that money,” the victim, who asked to be identified only as Sally, said.

She estimated a total loss of 30,000 pesos, which included both the stolen cash and canned goods.

It was her first time experiencing a break-in in four years of running the business. “They didn’t even spare anything, just took everything,” she added.

Neighbors expressed concern over the incident. Rosalina Abrenica, who operates a tailoring shop next door, emphasized the need for heightened vigilance. “We really need to be extra careful, especially with the sewing machines inside,” she said.

Barangay officials confirmed the incident has been reported to the Baguio City Police Office.

Councilor David Dawa said the barangay will adjust the patrol schedule after learning that the crime occurred beyond the usual watch hours. “We patrol until midnight, but clearly, that’s not enough,” he said.

The police have yet to issue an official statement as the investigation is ongoing.