ILOILO City – Drivers are advised to park their cars in safe and well-lit areas to avoid becoming victims of fuel thieves, according to the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).
“As gasoline prices are now higher and are poised to go even higher, thieves are also taking advantage of the situation,” said Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, spokesperson of ICPO.
A female car owner from Mandurriao district who requested anonymity reported to the police such an incident.
She parked her car around 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Smallville Complex in Mandurriao.
When she came back to her, it had no more fuel.
A footage from a nearby security camera showed a man lurking near the car, his face unrecognizable because the area was dimly lit.
Police Major Kenneth Gratones, Mandurriao police chief, said they were looking for “clearer” closed circuit television footages.
Thieves are targeting cars’ rubber gas lines that connect the fuel filling area to the main tank, according to Sangrines.
“They are siphoning the gas direct to their container,” she said.
Sangrines also enjoined the public to report unauthorized sale of fuel.
“Only gasoline stations are authorized magbaligya,” said Sangrines. “Ang pagbaligya sang tingi-tingi illegal. Kay mahal na subong ang fuel, ang iban ma-take advantage magbakal sa naga baligya with a lower price.”
Policemen were also alerted of fuel thieves and illegal traders.
“May mga pulis kita nga naka-civilian nga na-deploy para mag-ronda,” said Police Colonel Uldarico Garbanzos, ICPO director./PN
