Downward trend in thefts noted- DCPO

DAVAO CITY May 8 (PIA)- The Davao City Police Office has noted a downward trend in incidents of robbery- theft from January to April.

During the press conference held at the Task Force Davao Headquarters in Santa Ana wharf, Davao City yesterday (May 8) Police Senior Superintendent Ronaldo dela Rosa, Davao City Police Office head said that based on figures from the office there were about 21 incidents recorded in January with two suspects arrested.

In February there were about 36 cases with seven suspects arrested and seven cases filed, the incidents decreased by March with 31 incidents with three arrested and three cases filed and in April there were 20 incidents with six arrested and six cases filed.

However dela Rosa noted that figures tallied in the early days of May saw 13 incidents of burglaries already being recorded. “If we cannot arrest the figures most likely the incidents will be higher than previous months.” Dela Rosa said.

Known in the local dialect as lungkab, the crime mostly involves house burglaries notably unattended homes whose people have gone to work for the day.

Dela Rosa cites San Pedro Police Station whose jurisdiction has the most number of incidents of theft. He said that most of the subdivisions in the area belong to middle-class or working class segment who leave their houses during the day for their workplaces and without anyone left inside the home. Dela Rosa said that modus operandi of the thieves is to strike during the midday.

He said that most of the suspects were minors who have formed into semi-organized crime gangs. Based on their sources these minors are acting on their own as most of these gang members have honed their skills in crime. “At first we thought these minors are under some syndicates but we have observed that no adults have been controlling these minors.” Dela Rosa added.

As for robbery-in-tandem incidents; Dela Rosa said that no recent case has been reported. The last incident occurred in early March, a hold-up incident in southern part of the city and where follow-up operations subsequently neutralized the robbery gang. After an upsurge of robbery in tandem crimes in the early part of the year, the Davao City Police Office along with the Task Force Davao and the Public Safety Command Center were able to control these robbery gangs.

Most of them are either dead, captured or on the run. Dela Rosa said of the robbery-in-tandem suspects.

The Davao City Police Chief says he welcomes any information or tips from the citizens that will point to the whereabouts of these suspects particularly those involving robbery-thefts or lungkab.   (PIA 11/RG Alama)