Architect loses SUV, possessions to 3 armed thieves

MANILA, Philippines—An architect lost his sports utility vehicle and P200,000 worth of personal items to car thieves in Manila early Thursday morning.

Darwin Diego, 37, of La Loma, Quezon City, was driving his wife and child home at around 3.30 a.m. along España Boulevard when he hit a bump on the road at the corner of M. dela Fuente Street in Sampaloc.

He stopped the vehicle, a white Montero Sport (PCQ-778), and got off to check on the possible damage to his vehicle. That was what three armed men just needed to pull off the heist.

SPO2 Rodrigo Guina, of the Manila Police District anticarnapping and hijacking (MPD-ANCARH) unit, said that when Diego returned to the driver’s seat, one of the armed suspects was already at the steering wheel. The two other suspects were also inside with his wife and kid.

The thieves then ordered the family off the SUV and drove off with vehicle and their belongings.

The Diegos lost two laptop computers worth P100,000; a professional camera valued at P45,000; a mobile phone priced at P35,000; three traveling bags containing valuables worth P25,000; and a bank checkbook.

Guina said the suspects could have been trailing the SUV even earlier.

“The suspects could only have been waiting for the victims to stop,” he said, adding that Diego may not have noticed the men following him.