ASINGAN, Pangasinan – The acetylene gang struck again in Pangasinan when they entered a pawnshop here on Saturday dawn and carted away cash and jewelry estimated to be around P3.5 million.

Investigation showed the culprits victimized the Waki Pawnshop at the Asingan Public Market owned by Lito Quintero, a resient of Carusocan Norte in Asingan.

The police said the perpetrators gained entry into the pawnshop from nearby stall by destroying its double-steel plate ceiling with the use of acetylene torch.

While inside the pawnshop, the suspect opened the vault with the use of instruments from where they took away cash, jewelry and other valuable items.

Policemen who rushed to the crime scene after being called at 9:15 a.m. that day, found a hand drill with five drill bits, one saw, one bolt cutter, one big screw driver, eight destroyed padlocks, one portable acetylene apparatus with tanks, one pliers, two steel bars, cloth, one igniter, one flash light and two cutters.

Scene-On-Crime-Operatives (SOCO) were called to the crime scene to lift fingertips. (PNA)