Robbery inside Megamall: my experience
By greenpeas
@greenpeas (998)
Philippines
January 27, 2013 2:12am CST
I was there when it happened. I was in a coffeshop working at my laptop. Then all of a sudden people started running towards Building A. The lady besides me run away very fast leaving her coffee still full. My first thought was there was a fire, or a bomb threat. I was hurriedly packing up my laptop and all my other stuff when one of the barista opened the front door and asked a passersby what is happening, and he replied, THERE IS A MAN WITH A GUN! I suddenly became nervous since the memory of what happened in Newtown USA is still fresh. I was about to leave when I noticed that my flash drive was missing. I must have dropped it on the floor so I ducked under the table looking for it. That's when I noticed that there are no more people outside the shop. So I thought, to hell with the USB drive I have to leave! When I got up the barista asked me to go inside their worker's room and so I did, and saw other people already inside. I could see them afraid as I am. Then one of them opened the door and said we can leave because it looks like the situation is going back to normal. So I also got out and returned to the table and this time found my missing USB drive on the floor. I picked it up and stormed out of the shop. Walked very cautiously for the nearest exit. Still noticed swarms of people and so very few guards, except when I reached the exit, they were all there. I was about to leave when people outside starts running back the mall so I went back, and saw 2 police special force at the front of the department store, finger on the trigger of their rifles. I knew I have to get out of there, so I run towards Building A and to the back of the mall, where I was allowed to get out with other people.
2 people like this
17 responses
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
What a scary experience! I have learned about this when SM Megamall admins say sorry in their facebook account to what had happened.
I used to work for a real estate company that have an officein building A of Megamall. I could picture myself being there!!!
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
28 Jan 13
It is indeed a frightening one, who would have thought that a supposedly more secure place and that is the mega mall. it would definitely lessen the number of tourist on that place because of this incident. were is the location of that other branch their that you have? as i recall, most real state areas are mostly location at the top floor of the building.have a nice day
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
29 Jan 13
I used to be a Director for sales of a property subdivision in Tagaytay. Our office/stall was located in fifth floor, Building A of Megamall. It is almost at the exit of the parking lot and that stall was almost infront of Mendrez clinic.
If I may share, I had seen lots of our local celebrities there since most used that floor as their parking lot. Many celebrities go to Mendez clinic before Belo became popular.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
Hello greenpeas, How on Earth could these crooks penetrate the building? it was supposed to be guard all over the entrance and now robbers made it inside a jewelry shop? this was planned carefully. Not to mention, they go the balls to even rob inside a mall because of probably "LAX in SECURITY yet again" it's a sure blow to our tourism in the country because there are also foreigners in the area.
. am glad your safe
. am glad your safe@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
29 Jan 13
As a previous "tenant" of that mall, I could say that there really is lax in security. If you are a tenant, you are required to be there earlier on a certain time before the mall opens for opening preparation of your kiosk or office. What the guards check are just ID or pass and thats it. You will be allowed to enter the mall. The things or bag aren't checked by the guards. Among tenants, salesladies of the mall, the gym goers of that mall are the one earlier ones to come in mall and just the same, the guards don't check the bags.
I have heard that the robbers used hammers? Did they bring it or maybe they bought there in the mall?
Among tenants, salesladies of the mall, the gym goers of that mall are the one earlier ones to come in mall and just the same, the guards don't check the bags.
I have heard that the robbers used hammers? Did they bring it or maybe they bought there in the mall?
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
6 Feb 13
that is really one hell of an experience. I imagined how scary that situation is. I have heard about what has happened in Megamall, this was the robbery right? I think they already caught the people who did this, apparently the strategy of these people is to minimize hurting any people, their only intention is to rob a store and scare people and mingle with them so they could leave the premises as a regular person / a mall goer in this case.
I have learned that their bail was only a few thousands of pesos when they happen to be caught, so they do not want to hurt or kill anyone so they can just post bail and be free again. free to rob and all since most of the cases they were charged with, they were all sttill not convicted. =(
As a citizen, my concern is malls are not safe anymore! this is where we bring our childrens, right? everyone has turned from going to divisoria or tiangge to escape pick pockets. But then, we have robbery in malls now, in broad day light! We cannot even feel safe in malls, where its supposed to be a family place with all these happenings.
@rsa101 (37952)
• Philippines
28 Jan 13
Wow that was really a nerve wracking experience for you there. I was lucky, me and my wife were supposed to have our weekly grocery shopping there on that day. But my wife had a school activity on her work so we postponed our plan to go there in the morning and instead make it in the afternoon. But when she arrived lunchtime at our house she was so tired that after lunch she decided to sleep and said that we would proceed by 4pm but then again I noticed she was so tired and needed more rest that I decided not to wake her up and decided just to make our groceries the next day. It was as if someone was telling us not to go there that day. We only knew of the incident Sunday morning when we were browsing the news on TV. We proceeded to make our groceries after lunch and so far I do not see any changes in the mall except that there was seemingly fewer shoppers going around that day. We proceeded with attending mass and did our groceries and went home after a couple or hours.
@brew2x (3094)
• Philippines
28 Jan 13
I was surprised to learn about this incident last night. Too bad you've experienced it first hand, it would have been really scary. I hope nothing like this happen again. Me and my family are often at malls especially during weekends since Saturday and Sunday are my rest days from work. Those crooks might try to do the act again since no one was caught, which is very disappointing but not surprising at all. I hope SM malls would invest in safety equipments like detectors similar on those in other malls or airports and also they should have proper training for guards.
@aerous (13434)
• Philippines
28 Jan 13
This incident is a lack of security and lack of knowledge of the security guard. How does criminals go inside the malls with more than a hundred security guard. How can they escape with the knowledge of the guard? There's a lot of question that those security personnel need to answer...
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
Oh my oh my... what a scary experience... i cannot imagine what i would do if that would happen here in my area... since i rarely go to the mall alone... always with my kids... so that is even scarier... good thing the staff asked you to go inside their staff room to hide.. i haven't read the news yet so i have no idea what took place there...
It is good that you are safe and you were able to get away from that place..
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
This is really scary, we are not safe even at the biggest mall with a lot of security people around.
That is why I avoid hanging at the mall when I don't have any necessary things to buy.
I am also thankful that my kids are not having this habit of hanging out with friends at the malls or other crowded places.
They prefer to stay home and sit in front their computers of play games on their phones.
Thanks that you are safe.
@airasheila (5454)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
that was really scary. and apparently a nervous breakdown story, imagine witnessing all of those scenario is really frightening. well, the mall should imposed a much stricter rules in this case.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
That's terrible, we can't be safe anymore anywhere we go so long as there are people wanting to make a fast buck, I posted a similar discussion months ago about another situation in ATC (Alabang town center), don't let it get in to you, just live your life as you did but at the same time take this as a lesson on how things can go wrong anytime, anywhere.
@katrinapaz (2436)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
i am glad that you were not hurt greenpeas and that you were able to safely. maybe the mall security was lax or they have had a long day already and so security is not that tight anymore. If ever i was in your situation I would have been traumatized that I cant enter a mall anymore
@Angelpink (4035)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
I have read that in twitter but i really didnt get the full details , i thought there was an earthquake or a bomb threat. I can't imagine if i am in the situation there , so horrible experience , since many stories inside a mall like hostage taking , bombs and fire and many sacrifice their lives. Thanks God you are safe. We can't really tell what will happen next in our life and the good thing there is you remain calm and no panics , admirable trait you got.
@neelia27 (896)
• Philippines
27 Jan 13
I'm glad no one is hurt in that horrible situation.. I can't imagine being there.. probably I will run as fast as I can and leave my things behind.. I'm a type of person that easily panics specially if I'm in a public place and all people are running.. why does things like that happen in a place where you thought you are safe.. malls should do all their best to keep the safetyness of all people who comes in there establishment.. I hope those criminals will get caught as soon as possible..
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
27 Jan 13
This is a very frightening experience! I am glad that you are safe. Take care my friend.
