Steal-a-rental

Six suspected car thieves victimizing a rent-a-car company were arrested in a series of entrapment operations in Sampaloc, Manila by elements of the Western Police District (WPD) Tuesday night.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Reyes, chief of the WPD Anti-Car Theft Unit said carelessness led to the capture of the group, which rents vehicles and then sells them.

Reyes said that first to fall were Jerico Bonus, 23, of 58 Kitanlad street, Banaue, Quezon City; Michael Yutingco, 23; and his sister Ingrid, 25, both of 1107 Tower A, Valencia Hills, N. Domingo street, Quezon City.

The second group of suspect, allegedly the financiers of the illegal activity, made up of Jerry Legaspi, 27, of 30-B Pasco street, Cainta, Rizal; Darwin Singson, 25, of 76 18th Avenue, Murphy; and Jun de Casas, of Pedro Gil corner San Marcelino street, Manila.

"These suspects all come from rich families. They take late model vehicles from rent-a-car firms," said WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong.

Reyes said an entrapment was set-up following complaints lodged by Editha Qwider, owner of Assad Rent-a-Car, which was victimized twice by the gang. Two 2002 Toyota Corolla Altis sedans were taken by the group.

"Qwider sought our help after the suspects tried to rent another car from her through the phone. She was sure that the caller was part of the same group that took off with the car from Hannan Rent-a-Car, which Qwider also owns," Reyes said.

Last Monday, Reyes said Bonus and the Yutingco siblings rented from Hannan a white Toyota Corolla Altis (XEX-781), driven by Dennis Eugenias, 31, of Sta. Ana, Manila.

Reyes said the suspects asked to be taken to Pangasinan then back to Manila. Upon reaching Jose Abad Santos in Tondo, Manila, the trio tied up and gagged Eugenias before dumping him in Cavite.

Last Tuesday night, the suspects tried to rent a car from another company. But Qwider recognized the suspects’ cell phone number on her landline’s caller ID. She immediately sought police assistance.

An entrapment operation was set-up with Reyes sending an operative to act as driver of the rented vehicle.

Reyes pointed out that the trio met the driver-cop at the corner of EDSA and Kamuning in Quezon City. When the suspects boarded the car, other officers were ready to tail them.

"From Quezon City, we tailed the group and effected the arrest at the corner of España and Maceda in Sampaloc, Manila," Reyes said. "Witnesses later positively identified the suspects as the persons who took the first car."

Police recovered from the suspects a caliber .45 pistol.

Reyes said follow-up operations at a hotel at the corner of U.N. Avenue and Ma. Orosa street resulted in the arrest of Singson, Legaspi and De Casas.

Investigators are now checking the ownership of a red Mitsubishi Pajero (ZLE-888) and a white Nissan Patrol (GON-236), which were recovered from the group.

But a ranking police officer said that the operation was almost botched after the men of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco chased the decoy vehicle being used by the WPD operatives in the entrapment operation.

"During an operation in Quezon City, his men chased the decoy vehicle because they thought it was really a stolen car," the official said. "It was a good thing our operatives managed to explain the situation," said Reyes. – With Nestor Etolle