Ipit-Taxi Gang robs 2 women of P500K worth of gadgets and jewelry in San Juan shopping mall

Up to P500,000 worth of gadgets and jewelry was stolen from two women  by  Ipit-Taxi Gang at a shopping mall in San Juan.

In a “24 Oras” report by Emil Sumangil on Thursday, CCTV footage showed two men suspects entering a taxi cab the victims boarded while still inside the mall.

The taxi then drove to an isolated place where the men took one of the victims' mobile phones, a watch and all her jewelry. Her helper was punched in the face when she refused to give her bag.

Through CCTV footage, police were able to determine that the taxi’s signage was tampered with and that the driver, identified as a certain “Vernon”, was working with other suspects. 

“Vernon” was later located and arrested. He was positively identified by no less than 10 victims of the same crime.

According to San Juan Police, criminal syndicates have been using this strategy since 2014 by the “Ipit-Taxi Gang” with women as their preferred targets.

“May biglang sasakay sa backseat, iipitin yung pasahero. Lahat ng gamit kinukuha, pagka hindi pa ano… sasaktan pa ang pasahero,” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Francis Reglos, chief of the San Juan Police.

(The suspects would suddenly enter on both sides of the taxi’s backseat. They would then take all of the victim’s belongings and even hurt them if they resist.)
 

Police added the suspect, the current leader of the Ipit-Taxi Gang, is the nephew of the former leader and that they have established their base of operations in the eastern part of Metro Manila.

The Eastern Police District has been coordinating with shopping malls to secure their taxi bays to avoid similar instances, especially with the anticipated Christmas rush.

“Magkaroon [dapat] ng more CCTVs sa parking ng mga taxi, there should be a registration, who will be the taxi operator na papasok sa mga mall areas,” said Eastern Police District (EPD) Director Police Brigadier General Wilson Asueta.  —Jiselle Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News