A car owner has criticized Puregold Calapan’s handling of a vehicle break-in that allegedly occurred in the store’s parking area on January 24, sparking fears about security and personal safety in Mindoro.

Bryan Escalona reported that his vehicle was burglarized in the vicinity of Puregold Calapan’s free parking area.

According to Escalona, in a Facebook post, perpetrators broke into his car by piercing the window with a sharp object, pushing the glass inward to avoid triggering the vehicle’s alarm system.

Despite the immediate need for investigation, Escalona faced a three-day waiting period before being allowed to view the establishment’s CCTV footage, with Puregold requiring a police report first.

After obtaining the required police report, Escalona said he encountered further delays while waiting for Puregold’s administration to process and accept the document.

“The thieves could have already fled (Calapan) and are enjoying their stolen money while we’re still stuck in the process,” Escalona wrote in a social media post after being cleared by police to share details of the incident.

Escalona expressed frustration over the delayed access to surveillance footage, noting that immediate review could have helped law enforcement identify suspects who might have still been in the area casing other potential targets.

While Puregold maintains they are not liable for incidents in their free parking area, the establishment’s security footage access protocol has raised questions about response times to criminal incidents on their premises.

Puregold Calapan management has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.

photo credit: Bryan Escalona