Boy, 12, leads food theft gang

MANILA, Philippines - Manila policemen nabbed Wednesday night a 12-year-old boy who admitted leading a gang of teenage boys who jump onto the backs of delivery trucks to steal produce that was supposed to be delivered to the city’s wet markets.

Police arrested the boy as he was about to board a delivery truck passing under the Delpan bridge in Tondo, Manila. A cutter was recovered from the boy.

Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut monitored delivery trucks passing through the Delpan area following a meeting with La Trinidad, Benguet Mayor Artemio Galwan and representatives of the province’s truckers association, who warned they may soon stop the delivery of agricultural products from their province unless authorities stop the rampant stealing of produce and extortion activities by corrupt police officers.

The boy denied being used by syndicates and said they steal for their daily needs.

He told police he can easily climb onto passing delivery trucks without being noticed by the drivers. Once on top, he would use his cutter to tear through the canvas sheet holding the produce in place. Other gang members would follow him and steal boxes or bags of produce.

The boy said each gang member can earn as much as P300 worth of food produce for every “climb.” He said they would offer the stolen produce to Divisoria vendors at low prices.