DAVAO, Philippines – Their plan was airtight and executed with precision. Their weapons were loaded. The loot – millions of pesos worth of jewelry – was already in the bag. But then came the getaway, and that’s where it all fell apart.
In what could have been a scene from a slapstick comedy, a group of armed men stormed the Hannah Pawnshop and Jewelry on the busy Ilustre Street in Davao City on Wednesday, February 26, executed a textbook heist, and then saw their escape unravel in the most undignified way possible – their motorcycle conked out.
With their grand exit reduced to a mechanical failure, the robbers were left with no choice but to improvise. Ditching the useless motorcycle, they bolted down the street, transforming a high-stakes robbery into an impromptu foot race through the crowded Bankerohan public market – police, bystanders, and bewildered vendors included.
Investigators said the robbers declared the robbery and looted assorted jewelry, including expensive watches, estimated to be worth more than P40 million.
CCTV footage and video clips, which soon circulated on social media, showed the suspects jumping onto their motorcycle in an apparent rush to escape – except for a fatal error with their getaway vehicle.
One of the suspects, who served as the driver, was seen trying to start the motorcycle but to no avail. The other two suspects, one carrying a large bag and the other an Armalite rifle, stood by. At one point, the back rider even briefly alighted from the motorcycle.
As responding policemen neared the scene, the three suspects, frustrated and sensing the futility of their escape attempt, abandoned the motorcycle and dashed toward the busy public market, causing panic and commotion among vendors and shoppers.
The policemen gave chase and cornered one of the suspects with the help of bystanders who eagerly pointed out the direction they had taken. Some even excitedly followed the pursuit, mobile phones in hand, apparently wanting to capture the entire chase on video.
One suspect, who tried to hide, was arrested by police, while the other two managed to escape.
The arrested suspect – Johny Bulawan of Albuera, Leyte – was taken to the San Pedro Police Station – where he was interrogated.
Police recovered an M16 rifle, a 9 mm caliber pistol, a bag containing the stolen jewelry, and the faulty motorcycle, which was left on the roadside.
Davao City police spokesperson Captain Hazel Tuazon said on Thursday, February 27, that there is now a P100,000-reward for any information which could lead to the arrest of the other suspects.
Tuazon said police suspected that there could be as many as five people behind the robbery, including lookouts.
Davao police chief Colonel Hansel Marantan told reporters that authorities were reviewing CCTV footage to determine the exact number of people involved in the daring heist.
He said police had launched a manhunt for the other perpetrators, describing the group as possibly belonging to a “big organized group.”
Marantan called on those with useful information about the whereabouts of the suspects and their identities to coordinate with the police. – Rappler.com