Car theft incidents in Makati down significantly

From dealing with an average of four stolen cars a month, the Makati Police Department (MPD) said yesterday that only one case of car theft was reported for the month of July.

The MPD also noted that only three cases of motorcycle thefts were recorded during the same period, compared to the average of 12 a month.

The data was based on the report by MPD chief Senior Superintendent Jovito Gutierrez Jr. and was released by the city government in a press statement.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay commended the police department’s Anti-Carnapping Unit and the Police Community Relations Division (PCRD) for reducing the number of incidents and motorcycle thefts as a result of "continuous and intensified operations."

Citing statistics, Binay said Makati registers the heaviest volume of vehicle entry in Metro Manila with thousands of people conducting business in the city every day.

"This is the reason why we are doubling our efforts to prevent car and motorcycle thefts, considering that they lack police personnel," Binay said in the statement.

The mayor assured the public that police mobile and foot patrols are regularly monitoring the city’s streets, especially the Central Business District (CBD), to deter criminal activities.

The statement noted that streetlights along Leviste and De la Rosa streets in Salcedo Village and motorcycle racks on Valero corner Villar streets have already been refurbished as another preventive measure.

The MPD also gave anti-car theft lectures and tips to more than 100 staff of the Makati Parking Authority and the Makati Commercial Estates Association that also patrol in the CBD.

Binay also urged the MPD to include the 300-men strong barangay security force manning the city’s 33 baragays in its training seminars as they can augment the police in its anti-car theft operation in Makati. – Nikko Dizon