SUV stolen in QC test drive recovered with Congress plate

MANILA, Philippines - A brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV) driven off by a car thief who posed as a buyer during a test drive in Quezon City has been recovered in Dipolog City, police records revealed yesterday.

According to the report, the Range Rover was recovered by the police with “8” license plates being driven by a certain Jonn Marvine Dadan of Dipolog City.

Dadan was arrested by the police on Aug. 19, eight days after it was taken from a car dealer in Quezon City.

A man who introduced himself as Kenneth Ocampo posed as a buyer and drove off the vehicle supposedly for a test drive.

Ocampo drove up to the car dealership in Barangay White Plains, Quezon City in a Lexus bearing congressional plates.

The brand new Lexus was reportedly stolen from another dealership in Taguig City three weeks ago, police said.

Just like the stolen Lexus car that Ocampo came in on before the test drive, the Range Rover was also carrying congressional “8” plates when it was recovered, based on a report from the Dipolog City police.

The Barretto family, owners of the stolen Range Rover, said Dadan was not the man who posed as the buyer of the SUV during the test-drive, according to police Highway Patrol Group director Chief Superintendent Arrazad Subong.

It was not clear yet how the SUV ended in the possession of Dadan and how it reached Mindanao.

“We are not sure yet where the vehicle would be brought after it reached Zamboanga (del Norte),” Subong said.

Dadan was apprehended for driving without a license when the Range Rover was flagged down for using the protocol plates on Aug. 19.

When the chassis and engine numbers of the SUV were checked out, it turned to be the same vehicle being sold for P8.8 million but stolen during a test drive in Metro Manila.

Subong said Dadan has been charged for possession of a stolen vehicle. He said the SUV remains impounded in the provincial police headquarters.

Earlier, the police released an artist’s sketch of the man, who introduced himself as Ocampo, said to belong to a group of car thieves targeting luxury cars they take out for a test drive.

Ocampo was described to be an “English-speaking” and “rich-looking” person, who even appeared driving a Lexus RX350 with congressional license plates.

Ocampo reportedly issued a check worth P2.5 million as deposit for the Range Rover.

Police said it was the same Lexus “demo unit” that was stolen from a showroom in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig, also during a test drive.

Ocampo had earlier contacted the dealership owned by the Barreto family after seeing an advertisement online.

After handing over the check, the man came back on the afternoon on Aug. 11 to ask for a test drive. He was accompanied by Antonio Idanan, an employee of the car dealership.

When they reached a gas station at the corner of EDSA and Connecticut Avenue in San Juan City, Ocampo reportedly urged Idanan to buy some coffee.

As Idanan got out, Ocampo quickly drove off with the vehicle.