Malabon car thieves snared

A suspected car thief literally walked into the hands of authorities after he fell into a trap set up no less by his own victim in Malabon. This led to the arrest of the gang leader in the group’s safehouse the other day in Bulacan.

Chief Inspector Sotero Ramos, District Police Intelligence Unit (DPIU) chief, indentified the arrested suspects as Eric Gabriel, 21, of Interior Palmario Alley, Tonsuya, Malabon. He led police to their lair in Plaridel, Bulacan, resulting in the arrest of his cousin, Gilbert Gabriel, 39, alleged leader of the Tonsuya Carnap Gang.

Recovered from the suspects were a dismantled tricycle owned by one Emily Arnaiz, 46, a neighbor of Eric.

The duo‘s arrest was lauded by newly promoted NPDO director, Chief Superintendent Marcelino Franco Jr., who reiterated that cooperation between the residents and the police always results in the quick resolution of crimes. Ramos said victim Arnaiz sought help from his office when two unidentified men stole her tricycle while it was parked near her house last Saturday.

Arnaiz said she later received information that her stolen tricycle was still in the neighborhood. Ramos then advised her to spread the news that a reward of P10,000 will be given to anyone who could give information that will lead to the recovery of her missing tricycle.

Word quickly spread like fire until it reached the suspects. Eric immediately approached the victim and offered his help. Ramos then ordered a quick background check on Eric, which proved fruitful.

The DPIU gathered that Eric was released from prison only recently for theft and has a pending warrant of arrest for another crime with the Malabon City metropolitan trial court.

During interrogation, Eric told probers where their safehouse was located in Bulacan. A team that included SPO3 Romel Aggari, PO3 Marlon Gomez, PO2s Roger Libuton, Rodolfo Cruz, Resty Gumana and PO1 Virgilio Cervantes motored off to Barangay Sipat Itaas in Plaridel, Bulacan where they arrested the older Gabriel and recovered the stolen vehicle, by then already dismantled. – With Pete Laude