PNP warning out vs cheap motorcycles likely stolen

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—A motorcycle for only P5,000? Think twice.

Chances are these vehicles are stolen and sold cheaply in the underground market without government registration documents and license plates, said Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police chief.

He said despite this, the sale of stolen motorcycles was increasing since even high school and college students “could now afford it out of their allowances.”

Cruz gave the information at the start of the Laguna police’s Project Wildcat last Sept. 16.

Policemen from each of the 30 municipal and city police stations in Laguna are tasked with recovering stolen motorcycles.

The campaign had resulted in the recovery of 104 units of unregistered motorcycles on its first day, Cruz said. He said police in the province is now in custody of at least 350 motorcycles.

After posting pictures and details like brand, engine type and body number of the motorcycles on the police Facebook page, “Laguna PNP Carnapped-Recovered-Abandoned Vehicle,” the site drew several inquiries on stolen motorcycles.

“We have already traced the owners of some of the motorcycles, some from as far as Bicol,” said Cruz in a phone interview yesterday. Some of the stolen motorcycles were to be returned to their real owners yesterday.

Cruz said some of the motorcycles were recovered at police checkpoints while others were abandoned in subdivisions or in parking lots of malls.

He said some of the motorcycles were recovered in barangay halls allegedly used as the service vehicle of local officials.

“The thing is motorcycles could be easily disposed anywhere (that is why) there were not as many arrests,” said Cruz.

“For example, upon sensing that they were coming across a police checkpoint, (the thieves) would abandon the vehicle on the street and escape,” he said.

To intensify the campaign, Cruz said Project Wildcat would deploy police officers to man universities and malls.

“Our objective is to take away the instrument (or) means” of the criminals in perpetrating crimes such as theft, robbery or homicide,” he said.

Cruz said during the first week of the campaign, police in Laguna received no report of crimes perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects, indicating success.