THE Southern Police District on Thursday alerted the public against various modus operandi this coming holiday season.
SPD spokesperson Jenny Tecson also warned the people against members of “Ipit Gang” who operate by “casually ganging up on an innocent person, with one accomplice stealing the victim’s valuables while the others create distractions for the victim and bystanders.”
Tecson said these groups operate in Light Railway Transit (LRT 1 and 2), Metro Railway Transit (MRT-3) and also target bus commuters on both the north and south bound of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, and along the stretch of Senator Gil Puyat Avenue (formerly Buendia Avenue) in Makati.
She added some of the gang members had been apprehended by the Makati City Police Station and charged in court for theft.
“Since the crime committed is bailable, they were released from detention and continued with their illegal activities,” said Tecson.
The SPD also revealed that the gang was being protected by a certain Police Officer 1 Tamondog, formerly assigned at the Makati City Police Station.
The leader of the group identified as Ruel Bautista was arrested recently by Makati police operatives.
Makati City police commander Rogelio Simon said they had intensified their security measures and enhanced anti-criminality campaign in light of the high number of theft and other modus as the holiday season draws near.
“Part of anti-criminality campaign is setting up of aggresive patrol operations and detective beat patrols on Edsa-Makati area and Ayala MRT (Metro Railways Transit),” said Simon.
Just recently, Simon’s men arrested four notorious members of “Tira-Tira Oslow Gang” along Edsa corner Ayala Avenue.
Simon identified the suspects as Dennis Naveles, 34; Kevin Coltivo, 21; Rolando Bernardo, 26, and Rowel Concepcion, 26, all jobless and residents of Pasay City.
The authorities chanced upon the group members after they alighted from a passenger bus around 5:30 am.
“The gang’s modus operandi is they operate in a group and ride in a public utility vehicle preying (on) their targets. In swift motion, the perpetrators with the assistance of other members take the belongings of the victim and leave away (sic),” said Simon.
In crowded areas like open public markets and commercial centers, the authorities called on the public to be aware of the “Pasa-Bilis Gang” whose crime tactic was done by a gang whose members quickly pass from one person to another stolen items to avoid being detected.