Hello Peeps,

A friend warns me about this bag switching style of stealing. He verified this himself and it's true. Thought of sharing this to you.

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BEWARE OF THIS MODUS OPERANDI!

I have no idea if this has been happening for quite some time now, let's
just be very, very careful. I was recently one of the numerous victim.


On June 24, 2005 at around 1855H, I purchased medicines from Mercury
Drugstore located at Aniban, Bacoor, Cavite. Upon entering said drugstore,
I obliged with company policy to surrender all kinds of bags to the
security guard on duty. Manning the baggage center was Security Guard
Jualianito Teves of Derobe Security Agency based at Sucat, Paranaque
City.
I hand over my black Samsonite backpack to Security Guard Teves and he
gave me a corresponding security number, 019. Security Guard Teves placed
my bag at the second level of the baggage compartment and put the number
019 at the top of my bag. I proceeded to the counter and make my purchase.
(Receipt No. 832621 June 24, 2005 1911H)


When I came back to the baggage center to claim my bag and showed the
security number 019, Security Guard Teves handed me a different bag, a
light blue "mailman" bag. I was staggered to see that my bag was replaced
and gone. Security Guard Teves remarked, "Sir, ito ang number sa bag
ninyo, kaya sa inyo ito!" In our heated argument, I asked him to watch me
closely as I inspect the contents of the bag to verify its ownership and
match it with my own identity. We found out that the bag belonged to a
certain Reynante de Castro of Niog 2, Bacoor, Cavite who suffered the same
fate. Calling the number on Mr. De Castro's ID, his wife informed me
that
me and her husband has switched bags and he is at SM Bacoor Video City. I
contacted Mr. De Castro on the number his wife gave me and we we窶决e both
fuming mad at a mistake we un-deliberately did to each other. After
presenting my proper identification cards, Mercury Drugstore supervisor
allowed me to bring Mr. De Castro's bag to SM Bacoor. I went to SM
Bacoor
窶?Video City and met Mr. De Castro. (Mercury Drugstore Aniban and SM
Bacoor estimated distance is 5kms.)

Mr. de Castro was put on hold at SM Bacoor Video City because when he was
about to retrieve his bag, the security guard gave him a different kind of
bag, a belt bag. Mr. De Castro came from work at EPZA and went directly to
SM Bacoor Video City. The switching of the bags occurred at Video City and
the perpetrator, with the bag of Mr. de Castro went to Mercury Drugstore
Aniban, where he switched my bag with that of Mr. de Castro.

These events transpired under the watchful eye of both security guards.
The baggage compartment is exactly at the right side of the security guard
and any commotion that will transpire directly in front of him will never
miss his attention. I also believe that policy states that only the
security guard shall place or withdraw any kind of bag deposited at the
baggage center.

After the proper security check, Mr. de Castro's bag was returned to him
while the bag which was supposedly mine turned out to belong to another
person. I went back to Mercury Drugstore empty handed and held them liable
for the personal belongings I lost. The supervisor told me to account the
contents of my bag, with the corresponding cost, and it will be charged to
the security guard on duty.

On the following day, Saturday, June 25, 2005 at around 1400H, a certain
Liezl, Supervisor from Rustan's Supermarket - Boni, Mandaluyong
City,
called me on my cellphone inquiring if I have lost a bag. One of their
customer suffered the same fate and when he was about to retrieve his bag,
the security guard gave him my black Samsonite backpack which he hesitated
to accept. My bag suddenly appeared on their baggage center which was
switched again by the perpetrator. ツ￡The said customer was patiently
waiting at Rustan's Supermarket when his cellphone rang, the person on
the
other end asked him if he lost a bag. His bag appeared at Mercury
Drugstore Sucat (and the modus operandi goes). I was able retrieve my bag
from Rustan's Supermarket at Boni and the only content was the red
plastic
folder with my college diploma, the highly valuable items were lost.

Beware!