Recently, my eldest daughter Regina had a traumatic experience when her shoulder bag was snatched by riders of a motorcycle with a sidecar along P. Margal corner De la Fuente Streets, Sampaloc, Manila, on her way to the University of Santo Tomas. Her school ID, her weekly allowance, cell phone accessories, my China Bank ATM card and other personal effects were in the bag.
She was shocked and went home crying bitterly. My husband and I, her siblings and her friend Mitch consoled her with the thought that nothing serious was done to her unlike other victims who were dragged along the street or beaten up by the snatchers.
Thereafter, I immediately went online and transferred the money contained in my ATM card to the China Bank ATM card of my son since my PIN was written on a piece of paper attached to the card. Otherwise, I am sure, the snatchers would have been able to withdraw the money. Since I am enrolled in China Bank Online, I notified at once the bank about this unfortunate incident.
Five days after, my ATM card was returned to me. The snatchers tried to withdraw the money from an ATM along Quezon Avenue, but the card was captured by the machine. ATMs automatically capture cards when these are reported to the bank as missing, misplaced or stolen.
The snatchers are still on the loose and our neighbors say they are still victimizing people especially students near the vicinity of UST. Anxious parents like me earnestly request visible police presence in these areas where “motorcycle snatchings” are committed, especially now that classes have started.
—LALAINE J. TAMAYO,
lainejt3@yahoo.com