Digal: Heighten probe into motorcycle theft

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Police Director Erson Digal has directed all chiefs of police in the province to look deeper into the reported rampant stealing of motorcycles.

Digal said the incidents involving stolen motorcycles in the province have become alarming.

In fact, several impounded motorcycles remain in the custody of different police precincts after their supposed owners failed to present a driver’s license and/or registration papers at checkpoints. He said it is possible that these impounded motorcycles might have been stolen.

One way to look into the matter, he said, is to closely monitor junkshops where parts of the stolen motorcycles are suspected to be sold. It is also in junkshops where stolen motorcycles are reportedly repainted and repaired.

“If masakpan namo ang junk shops nga mamalit anang mga kinawat, apilon namo og priso ang tag-iya,” Digal said.

Digal said CPPO will coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to augment monitoring.

Just recently, a junkshop owner was arrested by personnel of the Theft and Robbery Section and the City Intelligence Branch of the Cebu City Police Office after several motorcycles reported as stolen were found at the shop located in Barangay Tangke, Talisay City.

Teofilo Daitol, 56, was arrested after reports reached the operatives that he was dealing stolen motorcycles and motorcycle spare parts.

TRS head Chief Insp. Bonifacio Garciano said they conducted the operation against Daitol after they received information from a motorcycle owner that he spotted his vehicle at Daitol’s junkshop.

Daitol failed to present documents for the seven motorcycles found inside the shop nor did he have a permit to run a junkshop when the surveillance was conducted, the police official said.

Two of the seven motorcycles were confirmed stolen and were already claimed by their owners.

Digal urged victims of carnapping to cooperate with the police to apprehend the possible suspects.

“Ipa-release nako ang chassis number ug ang engine number sa motor through media aron mahibaw-an sa owners kung asa nila pwede kuhaon ang ilang motor,” Digal said. (FREEMAN)