Manila police arrest “basag-kotse” suspect in Tondo; recover stolen laptop
• The suspect, described by police as a "veteran" in the crime, stole a laptop from a vehicle in a mall parking lot
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• Police successfully identified the suspect through CCTV footage and apprehended him within four hours of the crime
• In addition to the stolen laptop, authorities recovered an unregistered firearm and ammunition from the suspect
• The suspect has a prior criminal record for a similar offense in Makati in 2020 and is on a barangay watchlist
A 48-year-old man, who is a known figure in the "basag-kotse" (car-break-in) scheme, is back in police custody after he was apprehended for breaking into a car in a mall parking lot in Tondo, Manila, on Sunday evening.
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The suspect’s arrest highlights a quick and effective response by local law enforcement to a recurring property crime.
The incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. at the parking area of a local mall. Police reports indicate that the suspect smashed the front passenger-side window of a parked vehicle and swiftly stole a laptop bag from inside.
The victim immediately reported the crime to the mall's security, who in turn alerted the Moriones Police Station.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert Cruz, the head of the Moriones Police, described the suspect as a "veteran" in the criminal modus operandi.
He noted that the suspect's technique was so precise that the window glass did not shatter into pieces, but instead broke cleanly, allowing the suspect to push it in and grab the valuables.
"Talagang batikan siyang basag kotse kasi hindi nag-scattered yung window, talagang buo siya, tinutulak lang. Beterano na ito, definitely. Between 2 to 5 minutes, ganun siya kabilis," Lt. Col. Cruz remarked.
The suspect’s movements were captured on the mall's closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras. While the cameras did not show the actual moment of the break-in, they clearly recorded the suspect walking away from the area with the stolen laptop bag.
"Hindi natin nakita yung kanyang mismong actual crime niya pero pag nakita natin, siya lang naman yung naglalakad palabas na unang CCTV. Then paglabas ng mall, nakita na pati yung dala niya na may bitbit na siya. Bag na naglalaman ito ng laptop," added Cruz.
Following the lead from the victim and the CCTV footage, police were able to trace the suspect to his residence, also located in Tondo, Manila.
The arrest was made just four hours after the crime was committed. During the apprehension, police recovered the stolen laptop from the suspect's possession.
They also found a .48 caliber firearm and several rounds of ammunition, for which the suspect had no proper documentation.
This is not the suspect's first brush with the law. According to police records, he had been previously arrested and jailed in Makati in 2020 for a similar car break-in incident.
Furthermore, authorities revealed that the suspect is on the local barangay's watchlist due to his repeated involvement in theft-related incidents within their community.
The suspect is currently held at the Moriones Police custodial facility. He is facing charges of theft for the stolen laptop and a separate case for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, a violation of Republic Act 10591.
The swift resolution of the case serves as a warning to other criminals and a reassurance to the public that law enforcement is working to address and prevent such incidents.
News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories that people could easily understand and relate in their lives.
In other news, a small Sky Pasada aircraft carrying seven people made a successful emergency landing in a field in Reina Mercedes, Isabela, after experiencing mechanical trouble. The pilot, Captain Alito Getalaga, was hailed as a hero for his quick thinking, which ensured all six passengers were unharmed. The plane was en route from Cauayan City to Maconacon, a remote town in the province. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the mechanical failure.
Still in other news, a Senate inquiry into DPWH corruption saw a heated exchange between Senator Jinggoy Estrada and a construction contractor. The contractor, Mark Allan Arevalo, of Wawa Builders, refused to answer questions about his company's involvement in "ghost" flood control projects, citing his right against self-incrimination. The confrontation was triggered by revelations from former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who stated that a P55-million river wall project in Bulacan was a "ghost project" awarded to Wawao Builders. The contractor's refusal to cooperate highlights the challenges lawmakers face in holding those allegedly involved in corruption accountable and has prompted calls for the Senate to issue a subpoena.
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