Members of the Northern Police District (NPD) and security personnel from various shopping malls in the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area Sunday conducted series of simulation drills as part of the preparation against robbers and other criminal elements victimizing shoppers during the holidays.

The simulation exercises composed of "checking the readiness, plans and capabilities of the security personnel of establishments to respond to peoples’ needs in times of robbery and hold-up cases which are prevalent during the holidays."

Police noted an upsurge of incidence like snatching and robbery perpetrated by robbers frequenting shopping malls despite the presence of security guards who seem unable to control crime offenders.

The simulation drills started last month back in almost every police district in the National Capital Region following the robbery allegedly staged by a well-entrenched robbery group in Makati City whose leaders and some of the groups have been killed in an encounter with the National Bureau of Investigation and police in Cebu City some three weeks ago.

The drills participated in by elite groups like the Special Weapons And Tactics and other special, anti-crime units is part of their preparations for the Christmas season, said NPD Director Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr., who led the series of drills at three major shopping malls in Caloocan, Malabon and Valenzuela Cities.

The drills are being conducted after a notification with mall owners and security personnel before office hours to test the capacity or capability of security men detailed at establishments, Pagbilao said.

The simulation drills have been conducted at various malls in Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela Cities.

Drills like this is really necessary as we noticed that security personnel are "not properly informed of their specific task in cases of eventualities like armed robberies and other critical incidents," he said.