North Metro residents warned of crime rise

The Northern Police District (NPD) cautioned yesterday Northern Metro residents on the upsurge of petty crimes especially during this Christmas season.

"November and December are considered as petty crime months," Chief Inspector Chris Galvez, officer-in-charge of NPD’s intelligence and investigation division, said. During these months, Galvez said, crimes such as snatching, small-time robberies and shoplifting among others rise.

Galvez, however, said that NPD director Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., ordered the deployment of enough men in the field tasked to secure public order and safety.

"Police visibility has been doubled and our Oplan Sita is being implemented in crime prone areas," Galvez said. He added that the public must also be extra vigilant.

Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos Jr., NPD-District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU) chief, also said that intelligence gathering by his office was also intensified.

Ramos said that security was heightened not only in the wake of bomb attacks and terrorists’ threats but also against ordinary criminals that victimize common people in the streets.

Meanwhile, a document gathered by The STAR showed that for the month of October, the NPD has recorded a total crime volume of 494 in the Camanava area.

Of this, the Caloocan City police station recorded 295 cases, 65 in Malabon City, 28 in Navotas, 66 in Valenzuela, and the NPD headquarters has recorded 40 cases. Of the total crimes listed, 483 had been resolved with only 11 pending in courts.

Caloocan City got the biggest chunk of crime recorded as it has 1,284,779 inhabitants. Camanava has a total population of 2,494,457.