Publisher loses van

Car thieves struck again in Manila yesterday morning.

This time the victim was Journal Group of Publications publisher Teodoro Berbano, who lost a sports utility vehicle (SUV) parked in front of his house in Singalong, Manila.

A report reaching the anti-carjacking unit of the Western Police District said Berbano’s blue Isuzu Crosswind with conduction sticker 54KHR was stolen by car thieves at about 5:30 a.m. as it was parked in front of the victim’s house at 2628 Ayala Street, Singalong, Manila. Police have yet to recover the stolen vehicle and track down the suspects.

The Philippine National Police’s Traffic Management Group had earlier tagged Manila along with Quezon City and Mandaluyong City as prime hunting grounds for car thieves.

Majority of the vehicles stolen are those parked in front or near the owners’ residences. Most car theft incidents also happen in the early morning hours, the TMG said.

Police said the main factor contributing to the success of car thieves is the lack of proper parking areas in the mentioned cities such as garages or guarded parking areas. – Mike Frialde