A shop in Zarraga town, Province of Iloilo lost cash, watches, and cellular phones worth over P150,000 to an alleged burglar. 

Over a month yet from its date of opening, the shop that sells ready-to-wear (RTW) items and gadgets fell victim to a burglar. 

The owner found the items to be missing morning on September 29, 2025.  

“Dumiretso ako doon sa may pintuan tapos nung napansin ko ang butas doon, nagulat ako kasi may pumasok dito,” Alinor Onting, the store owner, said.

At least 42 cellphone units, five watches, and P30,000 cash were stolen.

“May nilagari sila doon, iyon ang sa may pintuan mula sa back door. Iyan ang aming pinagtataka kasi kung doon sila dumaan sa likuran, wala namang forcible entry doon sa likod,” said Lt. Col. Renel Lauron, deputy chief of Zarraga Municipal Police Station.

Onting surmised that the suspect could have pretended to be a customer, and it is possible that before the store closed on September 28, 2025, the suspect hid at the back of the store.

It was learned that the room at the back of the shop serves as their kitchen.

“Doon sa katabi ko, pumunta ako. Sabi ko, samahan mo muna ako kasi may nakapasok dito. Pumasok kami doon, wala naman kaming naabutan doon,” Onting said.

The store does not have a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera.

As incidents of theft were recorded earlier in Pototan, a neighboring town, police have not ruled out the possibility that the incidents are connected. 

“Hindi natin ma-deny na baka may koneksyon rin so makikipag-ugnayan kami sa Pototan upang makita natin kung ano ang pwede nating gawin sa nangyari,” Lauron added.