It is a personal experience.

I feel that it is my duty, as a member of tsikot.com, to inform/warn everyone here of a bad incident that happened in broad daylight, around 1.30pm on a peaceful Sunday (October 16, 2005), at the parking lot of MALVAR GENERAL HOSPITAL along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

For all of those familiar with the area, the hospital building itself is standing about 30 to 40 meters away from Commonwealth Avenue (CA). The space between CA and the hospital serves as the parking lot.

My whole family (wife and two kids, with two yayas) visited a friend confined at the said hospital. My kids were not allowed entry, as they are below 5 years old (hospital policy) so they stayed on the covered area/entrance with the yayas, merely 8 to 10 meters away from our parked vehicle, a Fortuner.

Barely 30 minutes, we went back to the car and was surprised that the window behind the driver's side was broken; a little searching and it was discovered that my laptop was missing. The laptop was partly hidden on that side, on the floor, upright in position, with some folders over it.

It is only then, after reporting the incident to the hospital security, that we were pointed to a small (10" x 10") plywood, a very inconspicuous sign, written: "Mag-ingat sa bukas-kotse at baklas mirror"... a proof that previous incidents have already happened (breaking a window was the first) BUT the management did not even have the temerity to place a security guard on patrol or posted in that part of the parking area. And, on that day, there was only 1 guard, sitting-pretty inside the emergency door, enjoying the cool air.

What do we get from this story? Here are my thoughts:

1. Ang hirap na talaga ng buhay ngayon. Criminals are very bold in their actions. Hindi na natatakot. Imagine, vehicles and people passing by CA (BTW, the side of the broken window was even facing CA).

2. FORTUNER SECURITY FLAW! Despite a forced entry, the alarm was not triggered. Pieces of the broken window even reached the other side of the car. The door, though, was not opened.

3. With no. 2, marurunong na talaga ang mga criminals. Alam na nila ang gagawin para hindi mag-alarm; at alam na rin nila ang hitsura ng laptop bag kahit na partly hidden. At the very least, my yayas will hear the alarm.

4. Valuables should be totally kept from would-be criminals' eyes.

5. With the stories of carjacking, carnapping, etc., particulary in QC, CA is the most notorious, from Tandang Sora to Fairview. Why? Informal settlers (squatters) abound the area, left and right of CA.

6. BTW, Puregold is just nearby the hospital, kaya ingat din sa mga nag-go-grocery doon, lalo na sa mga nagpapark sa lower portion where no guards are stationed. The "locals" serve as bantay-kotse; they just live behind/vicinity of Puregold.

7. Don't leave a member of the family inside the car, while parked.

Legal action is another story.

Into another story, a very close family friend's Revo suffered the same thing in Tagaytay, while parked. Window broken; all things stolen. Two months ago.

Best friend's Revo, while parked outside their house, in Baguio City, also suffered the same thing. Driver's side of the window broken; open door; alarm triggered; open hood; cut battery line. Apparently the robbers were interested with the H/U but nahirapan sila kasi it was not a "pull-out" version. Ang ginawa, middle of the dashboard was hit, badly damaged, pero hindi pa rin nakuha H/U. Guard was alerted this time, two shots were allegedly fired. The whole dashboard was replaced. A month ago.

Mom's friend's CRV was stolen while parked at Quezon City Hall. Parking near the Justice Hall. Last week.

STORIES not to frighten anyone but to serve as warnings to all of us, to your relatives and friends. Christmas is fast approaching; criminal activities increase.

BTW, broken window was replaced yesterday by the dealer; good thing meron na sila.

Easy driving!