Thief steals thunder from SJ’s anti-carnapping drive

A carnapping syndicate snatched Friday a luxury van in San Juan, a day before its police force could implement a scheduled "dry-run" for a tire-lock campaign to prevent parked vehicles from being stolen easily.

"Because of the incident, we will now push for the total implementation of our "tire-lock" campaign. We will start our dry-run tonight to get the reaction of vehicle owners," said Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, San Juan police chief.

Cruz said San Juan Mayor Jinggoy Estrada vowed full financial support for the project. Estrada, too, promised to fast-track the passing of a municipal ordinance legalizing the tire-lock campaign.

Records showed that businessman Ramon Sy, 61, of 803 Westwood Condominium, Eisenhower St., San Juan parked his 1999 model, maroon Mitsubishi Pajero (plate number MSY 168) in front of the Equitable Bank branch along Wilson st., Greenhills at about 11 p.m. Friday.

Sy and his lady companion Susan Tan had a business meeting in a nearby coffee shop. When both emerged from the establishment, an hour later, the vehicle was nowhere to be found.

The bank’s security guard claimed he failed to notice the theft. Upon receipt of Sy’s complaint, Cruz alerted his men and nearby police forces but failed to intercept the robbers.

The theft of Sy’s vehicle could be an open challenge by car theft syndicates to Cruz who earlier announced the implementation of the "tire-lock" campaign to make life harder for car thieves in his jurisdiction.

The measure calls for the installation of improvised tire locks on parked cars in dimly-lit streets of the town, especially in the commercial district of Greenhills, dubbed the car theft capital of San Juan.

The San Juan police will leave a note on the windshield that police had installed the tire lock. A corresponding telephone number will be listed in the note for the car owner to call and have his vehicle unlocked free of charge.

The dry-run of their campaign, according to Cruz, would determine whether car owners would appreciate police efforts or not. "We are willing to fine-tune our program for the ease and advantage of car owners if needed," he said. – Non Alquitran