Police Tell Car Owners to Use Smartphones to Identify Crime Gang Members

(PNA) — A police official has urged car owners to use their smartphones to take photographs or videos of the members of crime gangs operating in Cebu City, especially the members of the “laglag barya” gang.

Chief Insp. David Señor, Theft and Robbery Section chief of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), said the driver of a car should take a photograph or video of the stranger’s face when someone knocks on the window.

He said vehicle owners or passengers should never open their windows or doors when strangers knock.

They should not interact with the person knocking on the door, he said.

Senor said the laglag-barya thieves’ modus operadi is to divert the attention of their victims, who are mostly female drivers.

They trick their victims into believing they dropped money or anything of value.

When the victims fall for it, other members of the group snatch their valuables inside the vehicle.

Laglag barya gangs also target passengers of public utility jeepneys.

A video that went viral on Facebook last June 12 showed a typical theft incident perpetrated by jeepney-riding laglag barya gang members in the city. (PNA) CTB/EB