White and Blue is the Official Student Publication Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines with editorial office at Rm. 06 Student Center, Saint Louis University

You’re having a hard time eliminating enemy creeps in a DoTA game while an opponent is in sight. Well, you have been a ‘feeder’ all along the game, maybe it’s your time to shine. This isn’t an ordinary friendly game; a big amount of cold hard cash is at stake. You push through to the enemy base, but then again, you were bludgeoned to death by a twoheaded hero who has already achieved godlike status.

You don’t have enough cash to revive your hero so you wait for a painful 60 seconds until your next respawn. While waiting to avenge your death streak, you reach for your Nokia N-series cell phone inside the pocket of your polo shirt. A rush of blood race up to your brain as you realize your cell phone is missing. Your heart starts beating faster as you get nervous about it. You start to ask you friends about your phone, but they are all too busy to entertain your inquiry. Only 20 seconds remaining before your respawn…then, demise came forth.

INFECTIOUS BUSINESS

Computer shops have propagated their number for the past few years. A vast number of computer operators are at hand. These entrepreneurs fearlessly venture in this business because this is the hot stuff. In fact, they could recover their capital in little less or more than a year. These factors explain the boom in the number of computer shops and Internet cafés in the city. Due to tight competition, computer shop owners devise their own gimmicks to attract more clients to their shop. Some shops give discounts like a free hour for every 4-hour straight rental. Others give incentives to regular patrons like free snacks and other freebies. They also boast the hardware specifications of their machines so as to impress potential customers.

THEFT ATTRACTION

There’s nothing wrong with this hot business in the city. But as they devicethese kinds of gimmicks, they are little by  little neglecting the safety and security of their customers. Computer shops are public places, so everyone can come and go without looking suspicious. These recreation spots are among the targets of pickpocket gangs and thieves. As we immerse ourselves into the cyber world, we tend to forget the things around us. We even lose our consciousness in the real world as we are seemingly hypnotized by the wonders of the cyber scenario that we are into. Opportunists sneak in and unlawfully get hold of our valuables. Some of them pretend to be one of the shop’s attendants; they offer you technical assistance when you encounter problem with the computer. There are also those pretending to be by-standers or spectators, and when you’re busy playing games or surfing the internet, they’ll snoop out valuables, particularly gadgets and cash. On the other hand, other users carelessly put their cell phones and other valuables on top of the shelf of a computer terminal which makes them easy targets to prying eyes. A local news network featured an incident wherein a thief snatched the cell phone of an unsuspecting customer inside a computer shop in Manila. As the thief ran away from the shop, the victim chased him. The victim got shot in the head, fell into a coma and died few weeks later.

FILTERING DEVICE

Upon ransacking several shops here in the city, there are but a few who observe certain measures to avoid such dilemma. Some shops check up bags for dangerous weapons and the like. There are others who let shop custodians have regular rounds by the operators on every computer cubicle or unit, checking if everything is at their proper positions. Some also impose their policy in regulating the entrance of their patrons by providing them cards as passes after signing in the log book and a waiting area is provided for probable costumers as well. Many shops limit the number of people who could occupy a single computer cubicle. And there are countless posters and slogans constantly reminding us to take care of our valuables. So far, shops have not considered installing surveillance cameras in their premises.

WATCHFUL DISPOSITION

With all of these measures, it is but dismaying to think that these problems can be easily prevented if we are more careful. Every one of us should heed signs like – “Keep an eye on your valuables, the management will not be held responsible for lost items”. Then again, it is easier said than done. Nobody ever takes these slogans seriously until something bad happens.

FUSED ADVOCACY

Computer shops here in Baguio should not be complacent about their clients in the case of their safety and convenience. As customers, we too should play our part in contributing to the success of such measures. Everyone is held responsible for our valuables and other personal belongings. We should be reminded that security is everybody’s responsibility.

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