Car thieves fall in Malabon

Alert policemen arrested two suspected car thieves and recovered a stolen vehicle yesterday in Malabon City.

Malabon City police chief Superintendent Pete Ramos identified the suspects as Jerome Matias, 27, of 127 Rubyville Subdivision, Caloocan City and Alvin Balboa, 23, of Block 11, Lot 7, San Fernando, Pampanga.

At about 11:30 a.m. yesterday, Senior Inspector Simplicio Olpindo and PO3 Arnold Costales were manning their post on McArthur Highway in Barangay Potrero when they observed a traffic altercation.

A traffic enforcer had tried to a flag down a black Ford Lynx (WPY-175) for entering a one-way lane. Instead of stopping, the driver stepped on the gas. The traffic enforcer was eventually able to catch up with the car when it was caught in heavy traffic.

The car driver alighted from the vehicle and pointed a .357 revolver at the traffic enforcer.

Olpindo and Costales later came to the traffic officer’s aide, prompting the suspect, later identified as Matias, to run toward a squatter’s area where he tried to hide. Police eventually cornered him with the help of barangay tanods.

During follow-up operations, Matias tagged Balboa, a car wash boy, as his accomplice.

Balboa denied Matias’ allegations, Olpindo said.

Police learned the vehicle, owned by businesswoman Lea Sy Chua, was stolen while being serviced at a car wash along Pinagtipunan Street in Barangay Potrero manned by Balboa.

"We are still looking into this case since we have information that Matias was involved in several carjacking incidents," Olpindo said. – Pete Laude