Waterfront police recorded most number of robberies

The Waterfront Police station has the most incidents of robberies reported within a span of three weeks this month, a police crime statistics report said.

Based on the information obtained from the Operations Section of the Cebu City Police Office, the said station recorded 11 incidents of robbery with intimidation on victims.

The robbery cases were divided into two categories - robbery-holdup that uses intimidation on victims, while the other category is "lungkab".

The Comparative Statistics on Street Crimes was based on reports that reached the Operations Section since September 4 to September 24. This was noted by the said office so they could keep a track on which particular police station needs improvement in terms of crime prevention campaign.

Carbon Police station ranked second with five robbery incidents reported, while Mabolo Police station has the most theft alarms involving particularly the modus operandi called "tiempo". This is reportedly conducted inside malls where a victim's belongings will be taken away from him while he is busy on other things.

The most common crime against property this month is robbery-holdup with 27 cases reported and "tiempo" with 47 cases. Twenty of these "tiempo" cases happened under the jurisdictions of Pardo and Guadalupe Police stations, with 10 reported incidents each.

Last week, Police Regional Office-7 director Silverio Alarcio ordered city directors to re-deploy secret marshals in passenger vehicles to minimize if not prevent petty crimes on the streets.

He also ordered the officials to review the deployment of the Field Training Program policemen and to supervise them to maximize their capabilities. Officials were also told to upgrade their crime clocks and identify new crime-prone areas in their respective jurisdictions.

The deployment of secret marshals has drawn support from various sectors after the shooting to death of 19-year-old coed Carmela Cabañog who resisted in giving her bag to a robber inside a public utility jeepney.

Bag snatching, jewelry snatching, mobile phone snatching, pickpockets, shoplifting, car artist and "tiempo" are categorized cases of theft. - Edwin Ian Melecio/MEEV