A PAWNSHOP lost more than P80,000 cash to robbers yesterday, while a store selling roasted meat products was also robbed last Tuesday in Lapu-Lapu City.

In yesterday’s robbery, three men, including a businessman, reportedly robbed Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop in Sitio Looc, Barangay Maribago when the establishment was about to open for business at 8 a.m.

The Police Station (PS) 2 received the call for assistance and immediately dispatched a team to chase the robbery suspects.

The team led by Chief Insp. Conrado Manatad intercepted one of the suspects who was driving a white Toyota Fortuner, which is still for registration.

He was identified as Alex Gica Ong, 42, a businessman and a resident of Pagsabungan, Mandaue City.

Ong was intercepted near Marina Mall in Barangay Pusok.

Manatad said that Ong was identified by the pawnshop’s security guard, 24-year-old Gorgonio Hyolim, and Jeaneth Layos, 44, the branch manager.

In an interview, Ong said he was just there for a personal errand and to buy cell phone load in a nearby establishment.

According to the investigation, Layos and Hyolim were about to open the pawnshop when they noticed the Toyota Fortuner in front of the establishment.

Few minutes later, a person who was holding a firearm, appeared at the pawnshop and pushed Hyolim inside the lobby.

Another suspect, who served as a lookout, stayed outside.

The third suspect was the one who ordered Layos to open the vault at the cashier counter.

The robbers rode a motorcycle as their getaway vehicle, carrying the P88,000 loot.

When the suspects fled, Manatad said, they also noticed the Toyota Fortuner leaving the area.

“Wa magtaptap ang mga tulisan. Nagpakita sila sa ilang mga nawong (The robbers did not cover their faces when they robbed the pawnshop),” said Manatad.

Manatad said the Liloan Police Station coordinated with him after learning about the incident. Manatad said that a robbery also happened in Liloan two weeks ago where a motorcycle and a Toyota Fortuner, with no plate number, were also used.

Nanatad said PS 2 will ask for a copy of the footage from the closed-circuit television camera of the pawnshop to help them identify the other suspects.

Last Tuesday night, Xiong Sohn stall, which sells roasted pork and chicken, on M.V. Patalinjug Ave. in Barangay Pajo lost P13,000 after two robbers, who arrived on board a motorcycle, declared a holdup at 9 p.m.

PO3 Jeffrey Managase of Police Station 3 said the robbers also took the cellular phones of cashier Philip Yucot, 21, and cook Steven Bringues, 20. Yucot and Bringues were about to close the stall when the suspects arrived.

Not satisfied, the suspects also took five roasted pork bellies before leaving.