SOCIAL media broke on Tuesday evening, December 8, 2020, consecutive reports of "basag-kotse" incidents transpiring in the City of San Fernando, Pamapanga.
According to San Fernando chief of police, Lieutenant Colonel John Lopez Clark, three incidents of "basag-kotse" in different restaurants were reported in less than two hours.
"The first one at a restaurant along Lazatin Boulevard happened around 7:30 p.m.; the second at another restaurant along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Dolores around 8 p.m.; and the last one at another restaurant along MacArthur Highway in Barangay San Nicolas around 8:30 p.m.," Clark said.
Based on the investigation, all crimes have the same modus operandi, wherein they break the car window on the passenger side.
"It is possible that the suspects belonged to the same crime group that victimizes unattended cars parked in dark areas," he said.
As of Wednesday, the top cop said they are in the process of securing footage from security cameras of nearby establishments and those of the city government to help identify suspects.
"We already have persons of interest, but we need to secure more pieces of evidence to properly identify them," he said.
Clark asked the public to avoid leaving their valuables inside vehicles, especially when parking in a dark and unguarded area.
"One of the elements of crime commission is opportunity and the public has participation in that. As much as possible, always park your vehicles at more visible and well-lighted places and avoid leaving your valuables inside, especially if your car is untinted," he said.