Friday, February 15, 2008 Bry. vehicle loses parts to thieves
BARANGAY officials planning to conduct patrols as an anti-crime measure were surprised to find out that their vehicle lost its battery and CDI to petty thieves.
Raul Pabli, barangay councilor of Pakigne, Minglanilla, Cebu, told police that they made the discovery around 9 p.m. Wednesday night as they were leaving, and the barangay’s multicab wouldn’t start.
Although the multicab had been parked in front of the Pakigne Barangay Hall, no one noticed the theft.
Minglanilla Police Chief Romeo Santander said the number of similar cases has gone up in the southern town.
He believes a group of young men from neighboring Talisay City who are drug dependents are behind the thefts.
Right after the incident with the barangay, his operatives proceeded to the area where the group reportedly lives, but they were not home.
This strengthened his suspicions that the group was behind the theft.
This is the fourth time a stolen car battery and CDI were reported to the police station.
He said a similar surge in this kind of theft was noted sometime last year but it fizzled out until recently.
To try and curb these thefts, Santander said he plans to meet with chief barangay tanods and the councilors who head the peace and order committee to see how they can help solve this problem.
He plans to ask them to continue with their patrols in their respective barangays while police will also conduct their own patrols throughout the town.
He also encouraged them to report any suspicious-looking youngsters so the police can immediately respond. (MEA)
