Holduppers strike mall boutique before 10 a.m

Two men robbed a boutique clerk at knifepoint and took P13,000 cash from the store in the Gaisano Country Mall in barangay Banilad, Cebu City.

The holdup took place past 9 a.m. just before the Clothes Minded boutique opened.

The store’s location in the ground floor facing the parking lot made it highly visible to passersby but no security guard was nearby and the store had no security cameras.

Boutique clerk Rachel Lusarito was hospitalized after one of the robbers scratched her neck with a knife.

Police are still investigating how the unidentified men opened the cash register and stole cash without a key.

In a text message to Cebu Daily News Marilyn Agno, building administrator of Gaisano Country Mall, said they are awaiting a complete report today from the police’s Theft and Robbery Section (TRS) .

“The management is dealing with the situation fairly and is committed to extend our efforts to help resolve what happened,” she said.

The 35-year-old store cashier Rose Alguzar, who has the key to the register, said she arrived at the store at 10 a.m., the opening time.

Police said the 36-year-old Lusarito, the lone witness in the robbery, was still in a state of shock after the incident.

The lone security guard on duty Rodolfo Donato said he was patrolling the mall when the incident was reported to him after 10 a.m.

Lusarito arrived at the store at 9 a.m. and opened the metal roll-up door.

The two robbers followed her in shortly after. One of them poked a knife at her, demanding money. Police said the robber then cut Lusarito’s neck when she shouted for help.

The clerk said she immediately locked herself in the store’s restroom out of fear.

The two robbers wore black T-shirts, and loose denim jeans , Joana Aniban, Lusarito’s work colleague quoted Lusarito as saying.

Aniban said Lusarito pleaded with a robber not to kill her after he brandished a knife.

In a separate interview Donato, a security guard of the GDS security agency said he reported for duty at 7 a.m. yesterday.

The cash register was not forced opened or destroyed, said PO1 Ramil Duyag.

Duyag said police will look into how the robbers managed to take the cash./With Correspondent Chito Aragon