Highway Patrol Group: Car thefts drop in 2009

MANILA, Philippines - The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the Philippine National Police reported yesterday that the number of car thefts nationwide plunged from January to March this year compared to the same period in 2008.

HPG director Chief Superintendent Orlando Mabutas said there were 319 cars stolen in the first quarter of 2008, while only 48 cases were recorded for the first three months of this year.

The HPG director attributed the accomplishment to the HPG’s intensified effort of the agency against carjacking and car theft and increased public awareness of measures against car theft.

Although only 48 vehicles were taken by thieves for the first three months of 2009, HPG spokesman Superintendent Edwin Butacan said they recovered 103 vehicles and 40 motorcycles during this period.

“Metro Manila is still the hub of (carjacking and car theft) with 40 incidents or 84 percent of the total recorded cases,” Butacan said, noting that Region 3 recorded five cases and Region 4A three cases.

He said the number of arrest for car theft increased from only 13 persons from January to March last year to 34 persons this year.

In this year’s two recorded encounters between law enforcers and criminal groups, seven suspects were killed. Last year, there was only one encounter with five suspected criminals killed, the HPG said.

HPG police officers reportedly neutralized three carjacking and car theft groups in the first quarter of this year and recovered 10 firearms from the suspects.

Butacan added that 40 carjacking and car theft cases have been filed before the court from January to March this year. – Cecille Suerte Felipe