Motorcycle cops to hunt “riding-in-tandem” criminals in Naga

NAGA CITY (Dec 13,2011) – In response to the resurgence of motorcycle-borne “riding in tandem” robbers, thirty policemen have volunteered to use their personally-owned motorcycles to patrol the 27 Barangays of this city and augment the city police’s  integrated anti-crime system.

The police chief is appreciative of the scheme where “riding in tandem” cops shall be fitted against “riding in tandem” criminals.

“We have stepped up police patrols in the city suburbs and deployed two shifts of motorcycle cops, distributed in 12 teams, who have volunteered to use their motor bikes to patrol in tandem against the “riding-in-tandem” criminals,” City police director, Sr. Supt. Antonio Nilayan Gardiola Jr., said

Gardiola also said that village officials in Naga together with the barangay guards  and the police have organized an “Info-net system” and set up additional barangay outposts to check out new faces in the barangays and gather intelligence on the movement of criminal elements in the city.

Naga City Mayor John Bongat reiterated his directive to heighten police visibility in isolated areas in the city this holiday season after it was reported that transient criminals were responsible for last week’s daylight armed robbery.

Last Thursday (Dec 8), bank employees of the Peñafrancia Rural Bank of Calabanga, Camarines Sur lost freshly withdrawn cash amounting to P1.7 million to “riding in tandem” robbers who ambushed their service vehicle at Liboton St. on their way home from Banco de Oro Magsaysay Naga City branch.

The service vehicle’s driver, Benben” Añonuevo, who sustained gunshot wounds when the robbers fired upon his vehicle is lucky to have survived and is now recuperating at a Naga hospital.

Intelligence sources from the Camarines Sur police office also said that the “riding-in-tandem “robbers are part of an organized crime group who employs local spotters and possible inside informers in commercial banks here.

The police has also linked the recent armed robbery to a similar crime in Daet, Camarines Norte in November where motorcycle-riding robbers gunned down a security escort before grabbing away undetermined amount of cash from Allied Bank employees who were transferring the money from KTV Trading in downtown Daet

The police is alarmed that armed robbers have recently conducted their criminal activities brazenly in broad daylight in public view. (With report from Sonny Sales)