PNP-HPG recovers 2 ‘hot cars’
TWO stolen motor vehicles were recovered by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group amid its renewed warning to the public to be wary of modern car theft schemes employed by glib-tongued syndicate members who easily run away with the SUVs, vans and cars of their targets in the country.
PNP-HPG director, Brigadier General Eleazar P. Matta said that one of the vehicles: a Nissan Livina acquired through the so-called ‘Labas Casa’ scheme was recovered by members of the HPG National Capital Region Unit near a bank along EDSA last Monday afternoon.
The operation was launched after the HPG-NCR received a report that the Nissan Livina was being offered for sale on a popular Facebook Group at an unusually low price.
The vehicle previously sold just days before it disappeared was recovered in a sting which led to the arrest of the seller who is now being investigated.
The 2nd vehicle: a stolen Toyota Innova was recovered in Barangay Inosluban in Lipa City, Batangas by the Batangas Provincial Highway Patrol Team last February 28.
Two suspects were arrested during the operation which targeted members of a ‘Rent-Sangla’ syndicate operating in the province. It turned out that the duo rented the wagon from its registered owner last January 27.
However, the registered owner became suspicious when the two failed to return her vehicle last March 2, the end of their contract. She later contacted the local HPG office after getting information that her vehicle was already being sold for P300,000 by the suspects.
The suspects were already charged with violations of Republic Act 10883 or the new Anti-Carnapping Law.
Brig. Gen. Matta earlier asked the public to be wary of the modern carnapping trends that continue to victimize many.
Under the ‘Labas-Casa-Talon’ schemes, members of the syndicate convince a potential victim who can pass credit investigations to have his/her name used for a car loan application.
The victim is then given advanced payment depending on the type of vehicle being sought. Once the vehicle is released, the suspect will tell the victim it will be rented out to hotels and companies. After some weeks, the vehicle will disappear, sold in the countryside with the use of fake registration papers.
On the other hand, under the Rent-Tangay (a.k.a Rent-Tangay-Sangla), the car thief poses as a client of a car rental business. Once in possession of the rented motor vehicle, the suspect will pawn or sell the vehicle to other persons using fraudulent Land Transportation Office documents.
