Car thefts double in first 6 months

MANILA, Philippines - Incidents of car thefts almost doubled during the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year, records from the police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) showed.

HPG statistics showed a total of 3,170 carjacking incidents from January to June of 2014, almost double the 1,881 cases during the same period in 2013.

Of the 3,170 cases, HPG director Chief Superintendent Arrazad Subong said 304 incidents involved cars, vans and other four-wheeled vehicles, while 2,866 were motorcycles.

“There was an average of 1.8 motor vehicles and 15.7 motorcycles being stolen daily during the first six months of 2014, which was higher than the statistics in 2013 with only 1.5 motor vehicles and 10.1 motorcycles,” he said.

Of the 1,881 incidents in 2013, 303 involved cars, vans and other four-wheeled vehicles, while the remaining 1,578 cases were motorcycles.

Subong explained criminals engaged in stealing vehicles could easily take motorcycles from parking areas or along the streets, and these could be easily sold off to unsuspecting buyers.

Subong said carjackers look for a buyer first before stealing a vehicle to ensure the hot item could easily be disposed of.

Subong said the highest carjacking incidents so far was recorded in January with a total of 72, while the lowest was in March with 24.

This developed as the police arrested one of the leaders of a carjacking syndicate operating in Metro Manila.

Mac Lester Reyes was arrested by operatives of the Quezon City Police District in Caloocan City with 10 stolen vehicles recovered.

Lawmen also arrested several of his alleged cohorts during follow-up operations over the weekend.

Police recovered two Toyota Prados, a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Subaru Impreza, a Hyundai Accent, three units of Toyota Hi-ace, a Nissan Patrol, and an Isuzu Sportivo.

Police said they were tipped off that a Toyota Prado being used by Reyes’ group would go to a surplus shop in Banawe, Quezon City.

Policemen waited and noticed an SUV with license plate XRP-290 that belonged to an Isuzu D-Max, a vehicle stolen in Quezon City in June.

Policemen tailed the SUV until it reached a warehouse in Malabon City, where they discovered dismantled car parts and other paraphernalia supposedly used in car theft.

Lawmen traced Reyes to a condominium unit in Caloocan City.

Reyes yielded a Taurus caliber .45 gun, fake license plates and pick locks. Police also found a stolen Toyota Prado and a Land Cruiser. – Reinir Padua