Dogs foil Marikina City home invasion

A burglary attempt at a residence in Marikina City was foiled after the would-be victims’ pet dogs made so much noise that they alerted their fur parents.

In Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, CCTV footage showed the suspect breaking into the victims’ house in Barangay Sta. Elena at around 3 a.m.

He was rummaging through the living room where the victims’ ten-year-old child was sleeping when the owners’ two dogs — Balsy, a seven-year-old dacshund, and Black, a nine-year-old Shi Tzu — started barking loudly, prompting the suspect to run away.

“Inaamoy niya po yan… Dyan galing 'yung magnanakaw, na a-amoy niya na may ibang tao,” said complainant Paula (not her real name).

(The dogs were smelling the thief… They can identify if there were other people in the house.)

Balsy even jumped on the sleeping child and seemingly tried to wake him up. Meanwhile, one of the owners was awakened by the noise and secured their house.

“Alam niya 'yung pasikot-sikot dito sa bahay. Unang-una, naglalakad siya papunta, tinumbok niya yung likuran ng pintuan namin,” Paula added.

(The thief knew the ins and outs of our house. When he approached our home, he knew where our backdoor was.)

The suspect’s escape was not caught on camera but he reportedly stole three mobile phones from a home nearby. He left his slippers and shirt.

The police said they are now conducting a follow-up operation on the break-in. They also advised the public to inform local authorities if they will be going out of town for the Holy Week.

“Napakainam po nito dahil malalaman ng ating kapulisan at patuloy na mapapatralyuhan, maiikutan, at the same time yung police presence…Wag magpakita ng senyales, o palatandaan na ang bahay ay iiwan, wag magpapaskil na ang bahay ay walang tao,”  Police Captain Grego Gonzales, Chief PIO, Marikina Police said.

(It is best to inform the authorities so they can secure and patrol the area. Residents should also avoid giving signs they will be leaving their houses unattended.) — Sundy Mae Locus/DVM, GMA News