Cotabato LGU gives GPS device to address motorcycle thefts
KIDAPAWAN CITY — The local government unit (LGU) in this city is giving a Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking device to motorcycle owners to address the rising number of motorcycle thefts.
Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista urged qualified motorcycle owners to submit their vehicle documents at his office to get the GPS device from the city government.
“We already bought at least 1,500 pieces of the GPS device and will distribute these to motorcycle owners of our city free of charge,” Evangelista said.
He said the GPS could be a big help in locating stolen motorcycles since it would connect to the main server where details of vehicles were being stored for future use.
The mayor said he sourced the amount to buy the GPS devices from the city’s peace and order funds but did not disclose the cost.
Evangelista was alarmed by reports of stolen motorcycles in the city, including those parked in the malls. The Kidapawan City police said at least two motorcycles were reported stolen in a week.
Though several suspects have been arrested, motorcycle thefts continued amid local and village officials’ warnings to motorcycle owners to take precautionary measures.
“We have arrested at least four motorcycle thieves in the past weeks; however, all of them are minors and are now under the care of our city social welfare and development office,” said Lieutenant Jay Sarda, the city deputy chief of police.
Sarda said their personnel had recovered at least five stolen motorcycles from the suspects, though spare parts were already missing.
Police are having difficulty tracing other suspects since the stolen motorcycles were being dismantled and their parts sold on the internet.
“We appeal to our constituents to coordinate with us if they know about motorcycle parts being sold through social media so that we can arrest the suspects,” Sarda said.
Traffic division records showed that in 2023 alone, at least 15 motorcycles were stolen in Kidapawan City and not one of them was recovered.
