Police arrested two men in Pangasinan after a robbery at a vape shop in Malasiqui was caught on CCTV.

The footage showed two men entering the shop evening on September 1, 2025. One of them pulled out a gun and announced a holdup.

“Dire-diretso sila sa loob, tapos may tinutok na siyang baril tapos hold-up ito sabi nila. Binigay sa akin iyong lagayan niyang plastik tapos sabi niya ilagay ko raw iyong benta namin. Tapos nilagay ko naman iyong benta, pati iyong mga gamit ko kinuha. Belt bag, cellphone kinuha. Natakot na lang po ako,” the victim said.

The suspects took about P70,000 from the store’s cash register and P10,000 from the victim’s belt bag.

Through CCTV backtracking, police traced the tricycle used in the crime to a house in Bayambang. One suspect was arrested there, and authorities recovered the belt bag, though only over P3,000 of the money was left. Police also confiscated a knife, a face mask, and a black jacket linked to the crime.

The second suspect surrendered later to the Malasiqui police and handed over an airgun replica of a Glock 17, which he used during the robbery. Both suspects are residents of Bayambang.

PLtCol. Garry Anthony Casem, Malasiqui police chief, said poverty drove the suspects to commit the crime.

“Ayon sa initial na imbestigasyon, mahirap lamang ang mga taong ito. Kinuha nila iyong panghoholdap nila sa gastusin sa pang-araw-araw. Tinuturing natin silang poor or isang kahid isang tuka. Naghahanap ng trabaho pero hindi makahanap kaya nagre-resolve sila sa easy money, pagnanakaw,” he said.

The suspects now face robbery charges.