“Tatlo na kaming nanakawan”: ₱15K cash, coins stolen in Tabuk City store robbery

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — A store owner lost an estimated ₱15,000 in cash, aside from an undetermined amount of coins, after his store was reportedly robbed along Bonifacio Street in Dagupan West, Tabuk City, on the night of October 18.

Arturo Dalog discovered the theft on the morning of October 19 after finding his store door open, despite having locked it before going to sleep.

Dalog, who usually sleeps inside the store, said he initially thought he had simply forgotten to lock the door. He became suspicious when he noticed that the container where he kept his money had been moved and later discovered that his cash and coins were missing.

“Doon ko napagtanto na kaya pala nakabukas ang pinto ng store,” Dalog said, adding that he did not hear any unusual noise while sleeping inside the establishment.

He suspected that the perpetrator may have climbed over the store’s gate, although he could not determine how the suspect entered or escaped.

Dalog also found several coins scattered on the floor at the back of his house but found no clear signs indicating the suspect’s escape route.

He reported the incident to the barangay captain on October 19 and later had it recorded in the police blotter. Police officers subsequently visited the area to investigate.

Dalog said he learned during his conversation with the barangay captain that another theft had reportedly occurred in a nearby area on the same night.

In a Facebook post raising concern over the reported incidents, Dalog claimed that three neighboring households or establishments had been victimized by theft.

“Tatlo na kaming nanakawan. Magkakatabi kami kasama si Kapitana, pero eto ang tanong ko, bakit walang action?” he said, expressing concern over the lack of updates on the reported incidents.

Dalog estimated his losses at around ₱15,000 in paper bills, excluding the coins whose total value he could not determine. He said the money came from his small store’s earnings and collections.

Despite the loss, he appealed to the suspected perpetrator to use the stolen money for essential needs rather than vices.

“Sana gamitin mo ang mga pera na nakuha mo para sa mga importanteng pangangailangan mo. Huwag sa bisyo para kahit papaano makatulong ako sa iyo,” Dalog said.

As of his October 22 interview with GuruPress Cordillera, Dalog said he had yet to receive an update regarding the investigation.

The identity of the suspect, the manner of entry and the status of the investigation remained unconfirmed based on the information available for this report.