Captured on cam: Carjackers preying on Grab drivers caught

Four men accused of stealing the vehicles of three Grab drivers were arrested in Pandacan, Manila, on Sunday.

Senior Insp. Fernildo de Castro, head of the Manila Police District’s anticar theft unit, identified the suspects as John Lester Crispe, 28; Wilfredo Alejandro, 37; Russel Jimenez, 24; and Arvin Alejandro, 24.

Their alleged victim, Grab driver Victor Calacar, said the suspects took his brand new Toyota Vios on Nov. 14. The vehicle has yet to be recovered, along with P2,000 in cash, his driver’s license, bank cards and other ID cards.

“I hope Grab can help my family because I just bought the car six months ago and I still need to pay P15,000 monthly,” Calacar told the Inquirer.

He said that on Nov. 14, he took the suspects from Mabini Street in Malate to Guazon Street in Pandacan. But along the way, they made off with his car at gunpoint.

The suspects were arrested in Abad Santos, Tondo, after they were identified with the help of footage taken by a closed-circuit television camera. All, except for Arvin Alejandro, admitted to being involved in the crime.

The police said they were waiting for the two other Grab drivers victimized by the group to file charges.