MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Taguig City Police ordered Thursday the city’s nine Police Community Precinct (PCP) commanders to strengthen their anti-crime and police visibility campaign especially around pawnshops, banks and financial institutions as a deterrent to crime following last week’s pawnshop robbery.

Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario said the security advisory is meant to prevent crime groups from staging their operations in the city similar to what happened at the Mega Gold Pawnshop located on MRT Avenue corner Sto. Nino Avenue, Zone 3B, Central Signal Village, Taguig City, which was robbed by still unidentified suspects.

Apolinario said more or less P600,000 worth of jewelry and cell phones were reportedly taken during the heist.

“I already tasked the PCP commanders to heighten police visibility around pawnshops, banks and financial institutions to prevent criminal groups from staging any robberies here,” he said.

Apolinario said the special investigative team headed by the police station’s intelligence chief, Chief Insp. Francis Brillante, was formed to help in their investigation.