Car fuel pilferage persists despite police warning

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Instead of laying low, car fuel pilferers appear to have been emboldened despite the stern warning from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).

Based on ICPO’s record, four pilferage victims filed complaints with Iloilo City Police Station 3 (Jaro) and two in ICPS5 (Mandurriao).

Captain Eduardo Siacon, Jaro police chief, said they received more complaints, but the victims declined to place the incident on record.

Three of the victims are doctors while the other one works in a hospital.

The latest victim is a male doctor who owns a Toyota Rush SUV parked at Montinola Street, Jaro district, which is near the West Visayas State University Medical Center.

Found underneath the victim’s car was an empty mineral water bottle that was reeking with petrol.

It was surmised that the suspects used the bottle as funnel to siphon the car’s gasoline.

Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, Iloilo City police chief, said the latest victim in Mandurriao also parked his vehicle near the Western Visayas Medical Center.

Last week, the ICPO has alerted its troop against fuel pilferers lurking in the metropolis.

“We already conducted two conferences for the purpose,” Garbanzos said.

The previous incidents happened at Atria District, Smallville, and Medicus Hospital, all in Mandurriao district.

“We were able to contain the incidents in that area. But apparently, the suspects switched to Jaro district,” he said,

Based on ICPO’s crime mapping, most incidents happened near hospitals. It also appeared that majority of the victims were medical practitioners.

“The modus operandi are the same. They would slash the rubber hose and siphon the gasoline,” he said.

But aside from profit, the ICPO is looking at other angles.

“It could be done out of their whim or a form of hate crime,” he said.

The first incident reported happened on Oct 10 at the Smallville area.

Garbanzos then alerted Mandurriao cops to patrol the area.

After that, incidents were also reported WVSUMC.

So far, Garbanzos said they have no idea who are behind these activities.

“I have instructed our chiefs of police to talk to security guards of establishments to watch out for this kind of activity,” he said.

Garbanzos said they have also intensified checkpoint operations and checked motorists who would be carrying containers fit to be filled with petroleum.

He also asked motorists to park their vehicles in well-lit areas.