Salisi gang strikes twice in convenience stores

Alleged members of the Salisi Gang victimized a Chinese-Filipino and a Korean in separate occasions in Manila last week, according to a report by Emil Sumangil on 24 Oras on Monday.

Both victims were eating in a convenience store.

CCTV footage showed the local having a meal with his bag on the chair beside him.

A woman and two men are seen going up to him. One of the men gets his attention, then the other man takes his bag. All three then exit the store.

In the other incident, the Korean was victimized in a convenience store on Pablo Ocampo Street in Manila.

Like the first victim, the Korean was eating his meal. His bag was on the floor next to him.

CCTV footage shows a man and a woman coming up behind the Korean, then crouching down to his bag. According to the report, the actual crime was not recorded due to a technical problem with the camera, but an outdoor camera showed the suspects running out into the street with the bag.

Authorities reminded the public to be extra cautious with their personal belongings.

"Ang gamit, parati dapat nasa harapan. Maraming technique sila kaya ang gamit mo dapat palaging nasa harapan. Ang gamit mo dapat, wag mo alisin sa harapan mo," said Barangay 791 chairman Jaime Adriano.

The report said that authorities believe that the same group is hitting the stores, and that it is the same group that victimized a medical practitioner in July.

In that instance, CCTV footage showed a man going up to a motorist in a car and drawing her attention to a key on the ground. As she got out of the car to look at the object, the man's accomplice stole her bag that had been on the passenger seat. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News