MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Director General Ricardo Marquez has advised the public anew to refrain from parking their vehicles in roadside as they are prone to being stolen.
Records from the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) showed that from January 5 to September 6, most of the auto thefts in Metro Manila occurred on the streets with 44 percent or a total of 214 out of 489 reported cases.
Around 140 incidents or 29 percent of the cases happened in residential areas.
The PNP's 'Oplan Lambat-Sibat' regularly audits crimes at the police station level and use its data to further generate and identify 'crime hot spots and patterns' where and when intensified police interventions are necessary.
Records also showed that 54 percent or 265 cases of car thefts were reported to be stolen while parked and 29 percent out of the 489 reported cases are forcibly taken.
Of the 489, Quezon City Police District has the most number of stolen vehicles with 213, followed by Easter Police District with 88, Northern Police District with 72, Manila Police District with 59, and Southern Police District with 57.
The DIDM report indicated that 64 percent of the auto thefts happened between 12:01 a.m. and 8 a.m.
"While some of its personnel are in the field, our Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is still focused on its other duties in combating carnapping and hi-jacking activities," Marquez said.
"As our motorists and pedestrians demonstrate discipline and respect traffic and law enforcement in Edsa when HPG took over last Monday, I also urge the public to do the same in their respective communities - to be more vigilant against carnappers," he added.