Gang stealing stainless steel jeeps busted in QC

A dismissed policeman and two of his cohorts yielded four stolen jeeps and improvised keys of motor vehicles when they were arrested in separate operations in Quezon City.

Reports reaching relieved Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay said the arrested suspects are members of the "Stainless Gang," believed behind car thefts in Quezon City and nearby areas.

Aglipay identified the suspects as Rogelio Cruz, a dismissed Quezon City policeman and his cohorts, Ludovico Nartatez, 42, a laborer and Vicente Marticio, 33.

Nartatez and Marticio were arrested last June 23 in their respective houses at San Roque Street, Barangay Bagong Pag-Asa in Quezon City by elements of the Quezon City Anti-Carnapping unit (ANCAR) headed by Chief Inspector Rhoderick Armamento.

In his report to Aglipay, Armamento claimed they recovered from Nartatez and Marticio four jeeps, one of them newly painted and without license plates.

During tactical interrogation, the two suspects pointed to Cruz as their mastermind. Cruz was allegedly about to steal another jeep in front of SM Fairview last June 25 when cornered by Armamento’s men. He yielded 17 improvised keys of motor vehicles, mostly intended for owner-driven jeeps, police said.

The three suspects are cooperating fully with the police investigation of car theft cases in Quezon City.

Armamento said they are scouring Metro Manila and nearby provinces for other members of the gang with information provided for by the three "Stainless Gang" members. – Non Alquitran