Armed robbers break into pawnshop in Tagum; 1 hurt

TAGUM CITY—One person was wounded when armed robbers broke into a pawnshop and jewelry store inside a shopping mall here on Saturday, police authorities said.

The nine unidentified armed men carted away a still undetermined amount of jewelry after the daring heist at NCCC Mall along the Tagum-Butuan highway around 9:15 a.m., Chief Insp. Andrea dela Cerna, Southern Mindanao police regional spokesperson, said.

Dela Cerna said the suspects, who were armed with rifles and handguns, barged into the mall, pointed their guns at a guard posted at the main entrance, and went up to the second floor, where the pawnshop and jewelry store were located.

“Using mallets, they then smashed the glass display shelves of Shirley’s Pawnshop and the pawnshop of the department store,” Insp. Anjanette Tirador, Tagum police spokesperson said.

A roving guard named Gilbert Marin was shot on his body as he attempted to stop the robbers, who fled on three motorcycles, Tirador said.

Marin was rushed to a hospital.

Tirador said the police were still investigating the incident. RC