At noon last Sunday, the running engine of the suspects’ parked vehicle caught the attention of the patrolling policemen at the corner of Abad Santos and Bambang streets in Sta. Cruz, Manila, according to Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr., chief of the theft and robbery section of the Manila Police District (MPD).
"Naghinala kami sa isang naka-park na closed van sa tabi ng mga nakaparadang sasakyan. Sarado ang mga business establishments sa paligid dahil Linggo, so ano ang inaantay ng mga pasahero nitong van na ‘to," Senior Inspector Edgar Carpio, leader of the patrolling cops, told The STAR.
As the cops went for a closer inspection, they noticed the male passengers inside holding a spare tire, which was different from the tires of their vehicle, a white Sakbayan utility van (EDL-214).
During intense grilling, the four men admitted having stolen the spare tire from one of the parked vehicles in the area. They were also planning to steal other spare tires when the police came in, Carpio said.
Arevalo identified the suspects as Wilfredo Prieto, 28; Antonio Andrade, 36; Armin Nuque, 53; and Arnel Adriano, 31; all Tondo residents.
Apart from the stolen tire, also seized from the suspects were a modified tire wrench, several sets of screwdrivers and a vice grip. The suspects also told Arevalo they hired the vehicle they were using for their criminal activities for P500. They added they sold tires for P1,000 each.
Also last week, Arevalo and his men busted an all-female gang of pickpockets operating in malls and shopping centers as part of the anti-criminality preparations for the Yuletide season.
The suspected pickpockets —Andrea Aroganda, 23; Virginia Buenafe, 22; Miles Sta. Romana,20; and Josefina de Leon, 47 — came all the way from Dasmariñas, Cavite and were dispatched by their leader to a shopping mall in Malate, Manila to conduct their trade.
The four women were first trained by their leader for several months on how to pick pockets. "Pag graduate na sila, pinakakalat na sila sa mga matataong lugar," Arevalo said.
The women identified their trainer-leader as one "Maricel Devañez," once dubbed as the "Queen of Pickpockets." "Nasa probinsya na po si Maricel. Hindi na siya rumarampa. Nagtuturo na lang siya," Miles told The STAR from her detention cell.
According to Arevalo, the women were nabbed by his operatives, who were likewise trained to spot possible criminals in crowded areas. The suspects were caught while eyeing possible victims. The women admitted they were about to pounce on their prey when they were picked up by police.
Arevalo said he has a team of expert policemen who can easily identify "with 100 percent accuracy" suspected thieves, snatchers, pickpockets and shoplifters among the crowd. These plainclothes policemen are now deployed in malls and shopping centers to safeguard the public against criminals, he added.
MPD acting director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa has begun deploying plainclothes policemen in crowded areas in anticipation of the huge flock of shoppers for the holiday season.