Camp Olivas, Pampanga—Central Luzon police director BGen. Valeriano De Leon alerted all police units in the region to prevent the spike of holiday season criminal activities, specifically robbery break-ins and theft.
De Leon attributed the increase in the number of break-ins to poverty, “especially in these challenging times when lots of people have been economically dislocated due to pandemic.” However, he did not show any comparative reports and figures from the same period last year.
The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director ordered policemen to be vigilant against all forms of criminality during the holiday season. He warned lawless elements to stop their activities because the long arm of the law will get them.
“Go out into the streets and look for the criminals,” De Leon ordered.
Hate posts flooded the PRO3 social media accounts from victims of “basag-kotse” thieves in Mabalacat City, Angeles City, and City of San Fernando, as they called the attention of the police to arrest and put behind bars the people responsible for the series of break-ins of parked vehicles.
“The police are tracking down the suspects whose movement were captured by security cameras along their escape route,” said De Leon, adding that investigators are continuously reviewing footages, as there are portions that are unclear and cut.
“My instruction is to get the suspects and bring them to justice, bago pa sila dumami at lumaki,” De Leon said.
He expressed certainty that the “basag-kotse” incidents were the handiwork of one group, citing the gang’s modus.
“Isang grupo lang ito, it happened in one night and the same modus. I just hope that our policemen would do something about it,” De Leon said.
Last week, the police also recorded similar incidents in Tarlac province, where a series of “basag-kotse” incidents led to suspects carting away undetermined amounts of cash, gadgets, and valuables.
“Part of the criminal group’s modus is that they shift operations to other places once the police sense their presence,” said De Leon, as he appealed to car owners not to leave valuables or any gadgets that will attract criminals.