MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATE) Police in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area are looking to conduct more simulation exercises to test the effectiveness of mall security in these cities in preparation for the Christmas and New Year seasons.

Police conducted a simulation exercise at the Victory Mall in Caloocan City early Friday, wherein would-be robbers attempted to stage a heist at the mall.

In the simulation, four armed men managed to bypass mall security and entered the bank located inside the mall. Once inside the bank, the suspects disarmed the security guards, the mall guards, and declared a robbery.

Would-be customers then immediately reported the incident to other security guards who isolated the crime scene and secured the other customers while other guards alerted the authorities.

Before police arrived, the guards sealed off all mall entrances and exits to prevent people from coming in. The guards also evacuated the customers inside and shut off the gas pipe line.

When police arrived, proper operational procedures were executed to help secure the victims and arrest the suspects.

NPD Director Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao said the simulation exercise was done as a response to recorded robbery incidents in major malls in Metro Manila, the latest at the Greenbelt Mall committed by the Alvin Flores robbery group.

“The simulation exercise intends to put to test the effectiveness and capabilities of the mall’s security personnel, equipment and more importantly, its plan to deal with any ongoing conceivable lawless incidents that may occur, such as robbery, hostage situation, bomb threat, and shooting that can place the lives of the shoppers, mall owners and tenants in danger as well as cause unnecessary damage to mall properties,” Pagdilao said.

He added that the exercise aimed to boost the cooperation between police and security guards for better coordination during mall robberies.

“The simulation exercise will be conducted regularly in all shopping establishments in Camanava during early morning so it won’t disrupt the normal business activities. This move also aims to empower and enhance the knowledge and capabilities of the security personnel to respond and preempt unlawful incidents such as robberies inside the commercial establishments,” Pagdilao said.