[MSN] MANILA, Philippines -- Police are in hot pursuit of those involved in the theft of more than P4 million in assorted jewelry and art pieces early this week from a store in the posh Serendra Mall in Taguig City.

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Cops pursue suspects in theft of P4-M jewelry, art pieces 


By Julie M. Aurelio
Inquirer
Last updated 08:13pm (Mla time) 08/30/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- Police are in hot pursuit of those involved in the
theft of more than P4 million in assorted jewelry and art pieces early this
week from a store in the posh Serendra Mall in Taguig City.

Chief Inspector Celso Rodriguez, chief of the Taguig City police's
investigation section, said they were not ruling out the possibility of an
"inside job" in the reported robbery of the COC Arts and Antiquities at the
Serendra Mall at the Global City, Fort Bonifacio.

A caretaker of the shop learned that more than P4 million in jewelry and art
pieces were stolen from the store located on the mall's second floor upon
opening the shop on Monday.

Caretaker Carlyn Salupeza said she last opened the store on Saturday, and
that the door's chain and padlock were missing when she returned on Monday.

Salupeza, a resident of Commonwealth Ave, Quezon City, said she tried to
open the doors using her keys but saw that the jewelry on display were gone
from the antique display case.

She then noticed that a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary displayed near the
entrance was also missing and reported the apparent theft to the mall's
security guard.

The store owner, Cherry Araw, said a total of P4,045,000 in assorted jewelry
and art pieces were missing from her establishment.

The missing items included several pieces of jewelry with precious stones
such as diamonds, pearls, ruby and topaz; imported antique art pieces, and
the statue of the Virgin Mary worth P500,000.

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