‘Picky’ car theft gang falls

Authorities busted the other day a car theft gang targeting a particular type of vehicle after police operatives followed some gang members who had just taken a Mitsubishi L300 van as it was parked in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City.

The operation conducted by the Quezon City Police District’s Anti-Carnapping Unit (QCPD-Ancar) ended up in Pampanga province where they recovered two other L300 flatbed trucks and two other vehicles, all believed to have been stolen by the group, along with various license plates.

Arrested were suspected gang members Andres Maglanque, 54; Lyndon Maglanque, 48; Jamir Masanque, 34; and Henry Maglanque, 21. It was not immediately known how they were related to each other.

The operation started after the owner of the L300 van (NIT 700) reported its theft on Tuesday morning. QCPD-Ancar immediately posted near the city’s boundaries several teams which spotted the stolen vehicle. But instead of apprehending the suspects, they followed them all the way to a compound in Purok 6, Barangay San Miguel, Pampanga province.

QCPD director Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao told reporters on Wednesday that the gang targeted L300 vehicles because their engines could be used for motorboats while the flatbed trucks could be outfitted with other parts. -Jaymee T. Gamil