Carjackers steal vehicle with boy inside

[lightning099]

Philstar.com

Two suspected members of a carjacking gang fled with a medical representative’s car and its six-year-old passenger in Caloocan City Thursday afternoon, but the suspects dropped the boy off unharmed on a highway.

Senior Police Officer 2 Ferdinand Sarmiento of the Caloocan City police Anti-Carnapping Unit said yesterday that the boy was already reunited with his parents.

Sarmiento said the suspected carjackers were arrested by the Quezon City in a follow-up operation.

“The suspects were immediately arrested, but I could not give more details for it was the Quezon City police who apprehended them. We are still waiting for their report. Maybe they have also recovered the car,” Sarmiento told The STAR.

Caloocan police chief Superintendent William Macavinta identified the suspects as Samuel Papa, 39; and Prico de los Reyes, 29, both residents of Tala, Caloocan City North.

At around 5 p.m. Thursday, medical representative Jerome Michael Belgica, 36, went to the North Caloocan Doctors Hospital with his six-year-old son in tow.

As he went to his usual job in the hospital, Belgica left his son in his red Toyota Vios (ZEC-235) parked in front of the hospital.

The moment he left, a man in short pants and a white T-shirt approached the vehicle and enticed the boy to open the car’s door for him.

The man drove the vehicle with the boy inside but upon reaching Quirino Highway in Amparo Village, Caloocan City North, he told the boy to get out. The child was rescued by passing residents and was turned over to local officials of Barangay 179.

Belgica’s manager, who owns the stolen car, heard the alarm aired by the Caloocan police. By coincidence, he saw his car go past him towards Quezon City.

The suspects were caught along Commonwealth Avenue near SM Lagro in Quezon City.

[LadyRider]

Walang patawad na talaga ang mga masasamang loob ngayon! Sigurado ang bata nun ay na-trauma rin kase di naman nya kilala mga pinapasok nya sa kotse nila.

Pero ginawa dapat ng ama nung bata eh sinama na nya kahit sa loob ng hospital at din na iniwan sa labas sa loob ng kotse! A big mistake on his part na talaga ang iwanan nya ang bata mag-isa sa kotse! A very big BOOBOO on his part yun!

But at least nahuli rin ang mga salarin saka naibalik sa kanya ang anak nya!

[coiter]

why leave a kid unattended inside a car? and most likely the car's engine was running. sheesh. e kahit nga kung matanda ang nakasakay ninakawan e pano pa kaya kung bata. buti na lang talaga na di nasaktan ang bata at nakauwi pa.

[non-vtec]

very traumatic event for the father and son. at least they're both safe.

[DonT]

Definitely a lesson to be learned..I often see parents leaving the kids behind..especially sa mga convenient stores..just to get something quickly.

[Monseratto]

Irresponsible parent...Also glad nahuli din yung carjacker, but walang mention kung na recover yung car.

[mbeige]

At least, the thieves left the child alone and did not cause any more harm.

Both the parents and the thief were wrong in this case. Bata kasi madali mauto. Kahit sandali ka lang and you tell them to lock the doors, anybody can persuade them to open the car doors from inside. But yeah never leave any children in the car, if you're going to leave the vehicle even for a few minutes. Always, always have a responsible adult supervise the child regardless of situation.

[O!lman]

Dahil sa swapang sa kwarta ang Med Rep na yan pati anak nya iniwan sa loob ng kotse.

[mr_incredible]

Leaving a kid in a car, whether or not the engine is running, is not just irresponsible but also downright stupid!

Ang dami nang kaso ng batang iniiwan sa kotse na napapahamak, sometimes even dying in the car because of the heat or carbon monoxide emissions.