Robber steals car part; cops suspect fencing

CEBU, Philippines - In what appears to be part of a modus to sell car parts to surplus shops, a resident of Barangay Pit-os lost the capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) of his Toyota Corolla to an unidentified thief the other day.

A CDI, a type of electronic ignition system, is said to be the “heart” of a vehicle and facilitates the efficient use of fuel. It powers the spark plug and ignites the fuel in the cylinder. 

Sherwin Repollo, 48, reported to the police that he parked his Toyota Corolla with plate number GJA-776 at the corner of Don Gil Garcia and Llorente Streets when he discovered around 6pm that the rear quarter glass on the left side of the car has been broken. He discovered later that the CDI of the car was already gone, prompting him to report the incident to the police.

Following investigation, policemen from the Theft and Robbery Section said it is most likely that the thief broke the glass so he could enter the vehicle and tinkered with its parts to open the hood of the car.

A parking aide assigned at the place told authorities that a man of large-build on board a black Yamaha motorcycle with plate numbers 2191YX carried out the theft.

Police said there have been successive incidents wherein CDIs are stolen from cars, especially from Toyota cars. They said it is possible that the robbers sell the parts to surplus shops. The original price of a CDI can reach up to P6,000. – (FREEMAN)