A lot of you who are my Twitter / Plurk / Facebook friends may have already heard about what happened to me on March 9, at approximately 5:30PM at the parking lot of MC Home Depot at the Fort Bonifacio Global City.
But since not a lot of you know all the details, I’ll try to recall the events to the best of my abilities:
- I went to MC Home Depot to check out the boxing gym over there.
- I entered the MC Home rooftop parking at around 5:23pm.
- I was parked around 15-20 meters away from the guard on duty. And the line of sight between him and my car was unobstructed.
- I received a call from my mom who wanted to get some work related files from me.
- She told me to wait in the parking lot for her as she was just nearby. This was around 5:25pm
- While waiting for my parents to arrive, I decided to take my camera out and take some pictures of nearby buildings. I was on a roof top after all and I wanted to make the most out of the view.
- The guard on duty was looking at me taking pics, but made no comment.
- My parents finally arrived a little before 5:30pm. I stashed my camera at the back seat of my car, got out the files and gave them to my parents.
- After they left, I went down to the gym. After inquiring about the rates and amenities, I went back up again. My whole stay downstairs didn’t take more than 5 minutes.
- As I was entering the elevator, I noticed a suspicious looking guy looking at me in a strange way. (photo below)
- I went back up to get my gym bag, only to see that the rear passenger window of my car was smashed in and my backpack was gone along with my camera bag.
- I reported the incident to the guard on duty (name to follow. the notes are at home), and all he could do was stare at me blankly. I called him over to where my car was to show him the damage. He came over, took one look and went away because cars needed to exit the parking lot and he had to collect their parking tickets. It was around 5:35PM
- Already this struck me as infuriating, but I decided to stay calm. I tried calling the guard over again, only to repeat what happened: he’d look at the damage, but quickly walk away to let out the cars.
- I asked him to radio his officer because I felt I would not make any progress with this guy.
- The officer arrived, but he also didn’t know what to do. It was at this point that my parents and sister arrived.
- They too tried to talk to the security officers and explain to them the situation. We asked them why they didn’t proceed to check the trunks of the outgoing vehicles when the incident was reported. They kept insisting that their responsibilities in this post was to get the parking ticket stubs of the outgoing vehicles.
- We tried to explain to them (our voices were raised at this point) that it is part of their responsibilities to make sure that anyone exiting the premises would be scrutinized. To this, they only made excuses that the cars exiting the premises came from the other side of the lot and that there was no chance they could have stolen from me.
- After talking to a representative of MC Home Depot, we proceeded to the nearest precinct to file a police report.
Let me repeat the fact that I was parked no more than 20 meters away from the guard. And my window was equipped with tempered glass. It would need repeated bangings to break the window in. Either the guard was very oblivious that he wasn’t able to hear or see anything, or he was in on the whole operation.
More than the robbery itself, the incompetence of the security guards is what’s bothering us. Rather than make an attempt to help us, their primary concern was to make excuses. I can’t count the times when I heard the guard say “My instructions were to see to the outgoing vehicles.” It seems to him that the concept of securing the premises of the scene of the crime was just beyond his area of jurisdiction. We kept telling him that he should have inspected the trunks of the outgoing vehicles and all we got as a response was his blank expression.
We’re now in talks with the MC Home Depot management to see if something can be done about the lax security in the premises.
Here’s a list what I lost:
- My HP Pavillion Laptop
- My Canon Powershot G10
- My Nikon D40 DSLR
- My Metrobank Checkbook
- My Sun Broadband Wireless modem
Pics (click to enlarge):
Sorry, Pau =(
Sana sinuntok mo sa ulo yung guard.
I couldn’t. He looked really really incompetent that I couldn’t imagine him being a part of this. But we’re meeting with the security agency tomorrow. I’m not hopeful about the outcome, this being a third world country and all. But at least it gives us another chance to vent.
Totoo pala. Sorry.
Daming nakuha sa’yo. Mukhang ding reypist yung magnanakaw.
And here I thought it’s safe to park at the Fort. Lagi pa naman ako andun..
The Fort is known to have highest robbery cases because of many exit points. Geesh, that guard looks like he was really part of it. I would pursue this to the end.
If the tempered glass shattered that way, that would mean that the robber had to smash it multiple times with a blunt edge. I just don’t know how the guard couldn’t hear that.
Also, Establishments should be required to protect their parking areas with CCTV cameras. I just don’t know why they don’t do that.
I feel sorry for what had happened…those precious stuffs that were lost. Makarma na ang gumawa.
sorry for the term pau pero tanga tanga pala ng mga guards na yan eh. ansarap upakan nung una mong ni approach. buti nakapag pigil ka.
Sorry for your loss, bruv. Nothing infuriates me more than useless “security” personnel. I hope that rapist-looking guy gets raped.
Holy crap, dude. Hoping for a speedy and favorable resolution.
Seriously, there are no words. Incompetent is not enough to describe their security.
Pau, I feel for your loss. You lost a lot of items there! My hubby asked me to blog also about his client’s laptop bag stolen right in their very presence at a restaurant naman in Ortigas. The focus on tech devices by criminals is really alarming already.
Check my post here: http://herestolife.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/watch-your-laptops-new-mo-by-salisi-gang/
Stupid guards and their stupid poking sticks. Seriously, it’s either people are getting dumber everyday, or they are using their brilliance in committing wrongdoings.
Hmm, it looks like the thieves were already in the parking lot when you arrived. They picked you as a target when you took out your camera before your parents arrived, it was a giveaway that you had valuables in your car.
As per the guard’s alleged incompetence, it’s either he doesn’t want to get involved with this incident and just get on with his life/job or he’s part of it.
I agree with Jhay. You were picked as a target. Not that this is a new info, but it helps to realize that there is an existing modus operandi in The Fort given also that Noemi opined the venue to have significant exit and entry points that rival gimik spots in San Juan and Quezon City. I have been burglarized before in my condo unit, so I can relate to your frustration with security people during and after the incident. I think gangs who operate that way have a glass-smashing device that requires less effort to smash one’s car window. It will also help to research about it with car enthusiasts to have a sensible analysis of the situation when you need to, once again, relate your story to the authorities.
I feel for you. Dapat mahuli yan, either kasama nga sa modus yung guard or talagang di nya napansin din. pero imposible.
Anways, regarding sa tempered glass window, yup its tough and hard to break pero may weakness spot ang tempered glass and its located around 1 to 2 inches on any of its edges, I am not sure of the correct distance but i am sure of the weak spot(s), napanood ko lang sa mythbusters. But the edges need to be hit with a pointed object rather than a blunt one to be able to break, and since one needle spot break on a tempered glass’s weakspot would shatter the whole thing into pieces (in your case buo pa because the tint is holding the glass) mabilis lang siya and sometimes mahinang noise lang ang ginegenerate so “baka” nga wala talaga alam yung guard. (baka lang ha)
Second, ang parking ba sa mc home depot have tickets? kasi if it has then magiging excuse din nila na hindi na nila sakop ung pagkawala ng anumang bagay sa vehicle mo (which is stupid by the way). Yan ang hirap sa mga parking places dito sa philippines, kahit na nasa secured area ka or not, kahit may ticket pa yan ang nakalagay naman palagi sa “terms of conditions” ng parking ticket is that they are not responsible or liable for any loss sa vehicles or any damages sa vehicle which is quite absurd. never pa ako nakakita ng parking ticket na hindi ganito ang nasa terms. tsktsk. makakarma din mga yan
Pau I really think that there is a conspiracy with all the broken windows and windshields within secure grounds of malls and supermarkets. I do hope you may still recover your lost items from the robbery. Sometimes I think that the security personnel or agency of the establishments should also be liable for the damages. I mean, we pay money to park securely on those places…sigh, but there’s always that caveat that we shouldn’t leave our precious things unattended. I still hope for the best. Those people will get their due karma anyway.
Maki, I know right? But since it’s been months, we’ve decided to move on. The wife and I already bought replacement cameras na e (pero for some reason, parang mas maganda ang kuha ng lumang D40 ko kesa sa bago, hehe).
Tama ka, we all think there is a conspiracy, but since we have no proof, we’ve decided to let karma take care of them. I’m just sad that I wasn’t the last victim. Ang dami pa rin nananakawan using the same MO and nothing is being done about it. Alagaan mo na lang cameras mo
What did MC Home Depot management say or do?
Absolutely nothing.
hi, i was actually searching about some info re that gym at MC Home Depot. I just passed by that place this morning. Though I really feel sorry about what happened, is it possible for you to pass some info re that gym
And I think this is a good heads up. Thanks, it will be much appreciated..
nakainis tlaga pag my ganyan nangyari ang lagi sinasabi ng guard wala sila na pansin sometimes kasangkot din sila posible hindi nya marinig yung pag basag ng window mo kasi tahimik sa parking sa taas before kasi nag work din ako sa mc home depot yung guard msyado sila mahigpit sa empleyado madaya pa sila sa bandi clock sa umaga ang bilis ng oras kya late kami palagi tpos ipaparehas nmin yung time nmin sa knila clock after mlapit na uwian 8 na sa amin 7:40 pa lang sa knila pro ipnarehas nmin un bago kami pumasok inaad just nila yung time tpos pag my ganyan incidents tuladf syop hindi sila maka bigay ng magandang report kesyo ganun kesyo mganyan kesyo nyo mukha nyo P%$#@*() nyo mga guard ng MC HOME DEPOT (FORT BONIFACIO).