Saturday, August 16, 2008 Acetylene gang strikes anew By Reynaldo G. Navales
GUAGUA -- Assorted jewelries and undetermined amount of cash were carted away by members of the notorious Acetylene gang who robbed a pawnshop in this town last Friday.
Police Provincial Director Keith Ernald Singian said the owners and workers of the House of David pawnshop, situated at the Plaza Burgos area here, are still conducting an inventory to determine the amount of pawned jewelries and money taken by the burglars.
The suspects destroyed the back fence of the House of David building where they gained entry to the pawnshop between 10 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.
Using an acetylene machine, the suspects managed to break and open the pawnshop's vault where the jewelries and cash were placed.
Police said the suspects even attempted to open the steel vault of the Bank of Florida also located in the same building.
Scene of the Crime Operation (Soco) policemen, led by Senior Inspector Besnalen Apalasin, were sent to the pawnshop building to gather pieces of evidence which will help in solving the case.
The Soco team was also directed to conduct technical investigation on the robbery case.
Singian said he has ordered a follow-up operation to identify the robbers.
Responding policemen recovered a bolt-cutter and acetylene machine from the establishment.
Acetylene members are on test mission following two separate attempts on a pawnshop and money transfer firm in Mabalacat and Angeles City, respectively.
In Mabalacat, leaders of Barangay Madapdap Resettlement Center and the policemen recently foiled a pawnshop robbery situated at the site's public market.
On August 5, Angeles policemen also prevented a supposed robbery at the Western Union money transfer chain where about P4 million in cash are stored.
The robbers in both incidents used acetylene machines in forcibly opening the vaults.
