FORTUNER IS CARJACKER's FLAVOR OF THE MONTH

**chua_riwap** · November 29th, 2006 10:43 PM

Magpa-Pasko na! Active na naman sila. Ingat na lang po yung mga Fortuner owners.

From ABS-CBN........

Toyota SUV is Carjackers' Flavor of the Month

The Toyota Fortuner is the carjackers' "flavor of the month," Metro Manila police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla said Wednesday. Varilla said the Japanese sport utility vehicle is considered "rare" because it cannot be directly purchased from car dealerships. He said buyers would have to order first from Toyota and wait for months before a unit is delivered.

Varilla said the police are confirming reports that stolen Fortuners are being sold overseas. "We're coordinating with other units to determine how the vehicles are being smuggled outside the country," he told DZMM.

The Metro Manila police chief also said that car thieves have shifted their modus operandi because of anti-theft immobilizers. Syndicates are now targeting vehicle owners who had just sat behind the wheel and about to start the engine or those parking their cars.

"What they are doing now is they will poke guns at the drivers. The keys are still [in the ignition]. They will also take the driver and just drop them somewhere," he said.

Varilla said he has set a meeting with Metro Manila police district directors and concerned units to form a plan on how to counter carjacking incidents. He had also ordered anti-car theft units in Metro Manila to locate shops where stolen vehicles are being dismantled and sold.

Two In A Week

Varilla's information about Fortuners were backed by police reports on recent carjacking incidents involving the sport utility vehicle popular among businessmen and the upper class.

On Tuesday night, five gunmen forcibly took a Fortuner (ZAF 558) from well-known songwriter Vehnee Saturno. Saturno said he had just parked his black SUV near a bar along Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City when five men forcibly pushed him into the passenger seat and commandeered the vehicle. He said the men beat him up before dropping him off in Marilao, Bulacan.

On Thursday last week, businessman Jesen Vergara suffered a broken nose and contusions after carjackers tried to take his Fortuner (ZBK-860).

Vergara had parked his vehicle in front of the J and J Inihaw Restaurant along Mother Ignacia Street in Timog Avenue, Quezon City, when three balaclava-wearing gunmen approached him.

One of the gunmen hit Vergara to the face with a gun when he refused to hand over his car keys. The carjackers, however, scampered after the commotion caught other people's attention. Varilla said the National Capital Region Police Office is set to deploy 100 motorcycle-riding policemen to curb incidents of snatching, carjacking and other street crimes.

Aside from uniformed motorcycle-riding operatives, the Metro Manila police will also deploy plainclothesmen on motorcycles to go after criminals.

**jasprit** · November 29th, 2006 11:22 PM

alam ko madalas to sa gimic hrs ryt??? wala na munag gimik cguro ngayun kakatakot yari ako sa erpats ko.

**Memphis Raines** · November 29th, 2006 11:33 PM

Tsk tsk tsk! Hirap talaga to own a high profile car

Pati buhay mo naka taya!

**reniram** · November 29th, 2006 11:46 PM

Eto na nga yung modus ng mga carjacker ngayon. Kaya yung na-carjack na unit hindi mo na makikita pa sa pinas.

Malamang ganito nangyari doon sa isang thread d2 ng black toyota pick-up.

Malaking sindikato nasa likod nyan. May kapit kaya nailalabas ng bansa sasakyan.

Ingat na lang.

**karlbo** · November 29th, 2006 11:52 PM

:scary:ganun talaga pag magpapasko.. talamak na naman ang kasamaan

**Airwalk** · November 30th, 2006 12:30 AM

good thing i dont have a fortuner nor any fortune

be vigilant guys!

**oldblue** · November 30th, 2006 12:44 AM

bad trip nga yan, ngaun lang ako na-eexcite sa Toyota ulit, plano ko bumili ng Avanza ngaun pasko. pero talagang open season mga Toyota cars dito sa'tin!