Car theft warehouse yields stolen parts

CAMP PACIANO RIZAL, Laguna—The arrest of a car theft suspect in Laguna province over the weekend led to the discovery of a warehouse where stolen vehicles were allegedly being cannibalized and the parts sold illegally, the police said.

Members of the Laguna police, at around 8 a.m. on Monday, discovered the warehouse in Daang Bakal in Tondo, Manila, where parts of what they believed were stolen vehicles were stashed, and arrested at least seven suspected members of the car theft gang.

This was after a member of the gang, identified as Russel Aguilar, was arrested on Saturday in Barangay (village) Marinig in Cabuyao City, Laguna.

Senior Supt. Fausto Manzanilla, Laguna police director, said on the phone on Monday that Aguilar pretended to hire jeepney driver Jonel Alvarado in Cabuyao City but on their way, held a knife at the driver and stole the vehicle.

The jeepney driver sought police help, which led to the arrest of Aguilar on Saturday night.