Manhunt on for trainer of Quiapo, Sta. Cruz child thieves

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila police has launched a manhunt against a Mindanao native who reportedly trains and forces children to pick pockets and slash the bags of commuters and shoppers in Quiapo and Sta. Cruz.

Twelve suspected pickpockets and snatchers, including five minors, were rounded up by the police in the shopping areas of Quiapo and Sta. Cruz yesterday.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim directed the police to cleanse the city of undesirable characters following complaints from commuters and shoppers who were victimized by young pickpockets who are adept in slashing pockets, purses and bags.

Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut said the five minors, three girls aged 12 and 14 and two boys aged nine and 13, pointed to one “Gabar Muslim” as their coddler, who would beat them up if they fail to surrender their loot.

The children said Gabar Muslim trained them and then set them loose in crowded areas to snatch and steal valuables from shoppers.

“This Gabar Muslim that the kids identified appears to be using children in his illegal operations. I have ordered my men to find and arrest this man at all costs,” Yabut said.

Yabut will tap his intelligence network to find the lair of Gabar Muslim and put a stop to his illegal activities of using minors 

The rest of the arrested suspected pickpockets and snatchers were booked for vagrancy, while their names were submitted to the Criminal Records Division of the Manila Police District for verification if they have pending criminal records.

The minors were turned over to the local Social Welfare and Development office in Arroceros, Manila.