Suspect in SM North jewelry heist tagged as Martilyo Gang member

The police are now more convinced that the notorious "Martilyo Gang" was behind the jewelry robbery in SM City North Edsa last Sunday, according to a "24 Oras" report.

A composite picture using images from CCTV footage shows at least one of the suspects also being one of those who carried out a similar robbery in SM Megamall in January.

"Nung pinakita natin itong picture na ito 'dun sa testigo, among the many pictures, nung makita niya 'to, napaiyak siya, at sinabi niyang ito 'yung nakausap niya," Quezon City Police District deputy director for administration senior superintendent Joel Pagdilao said in the report.

"Mayroon na tayong lead sa suspek. May alyas na rin tayo," Pagdilao added. The report did not mention the name.

The suspect was among the four who first talked to the staff of F & C Jewelry before the robbers smashed the display cases and stole the loot.

The suspect, meanwhile, served as a lookout in the Megamall heist just January this year.

Pagdilao added that the two heists involved the same modus operandi: the robbers supposedly bought tools from the mall and used these to smash the display cases.

"''Dun sa evaluation ng mga imbestigador, 'yung mga galaw ng mga nasa Megamall almost the same sa galaw ng mga nasa SM North. Maaring 'yung ibang members dito kasama dito sa SM North," Pagdilao said.

The composite pictures will be displayed in crowded places such as malls, Pagdilao said.

Aside from the Megamall incident last January, a robbery was pulled off by the Martilyo gang on November 14, 2010 at SM City Bicutan.
 
At least five people, including a three-year-old, were injured in a grenade explosion after robbers stole jewelry from a shop inside the mall.

A hammer bought from a hardware store inside was used to break the jewelry case.

The gang, also known for bringing firearms and even grenades in shopping malls, gained its name from using hammers bought from the mall to smash jewelry cases and steal their loot. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/BM, GMA News