Foreigners fool cashier, steal P12 thousand

CEBU, Philippines — Two foreign nationals allegedly stole P12,000 from a shopping center along Osmeña Boulevard, Barangay Sto. Niño, last Wednesday after deceiving and “hypnotizing” the cashier in charge.

Cashier Angely Maghanoy, 17, who is currently on her on-the-job training in the store, said the suspects were a man and a woman of Indian descent who spoke in English.

Maghanoy narrated that while she was manning her post at the counter, the male suspect approached to pay for P19 worth of merchandise with a P1,000 bill. The female suspect appeared to act as a lookout.

Out of the blue, the male suspect allegedly challenged Maghanoy to look for the letters “PH” in the bill on top of the P500 bills in the register. He allegedly promised her a prize of P5,000 if she succeeded.

The victim initially refused the challenge, but after a little convincing by the suspect, found herself enticed and thrilled by the dare and she agreed.

The suspect even got the chance to touch the money in the cash register.

Security camera footage later revealed that the male suspect was able to take P12,000 from the cash register by passing the bills from one hand to the other without the cashier’s knowledge.

Maghanoy was held accountable with the lost amount.

Police Senior Master Sergeant Erasmo Rosel Jr., the investigator of the case, said the victim described herself as being “hypnotized” by the suspect. After the incident, Maghanoy reported it to the police station assisted by her supervisor and the security guard of the said shopping center.

He added that the police are looking for the suspects as security cameras also recorded the license plate numbers of their getaway vehicle, a black sedan. — Iris Hazel M. Mascardo/BRP (FREEMAN)