CAVITE – Authorities arrested two carnapping suspects in Carmona City on Saturday, July 22.

Cavite Police Provincial Office identified the suspects as Lorenzo V. Maingat, 28, and Julius C. Floretes, 35.

On July 21, the Carmona City Police Station (CPS) received a report from a victim whose scooter was stolen by the suspects, prompting the police to launch a follow-up operation.

According to the initial investigation, the suspects used a borrowed tricycle as their main mode of transportation and stole scooters in several areas in Cavite and Laguna.

“Sa Timbao, Biñan, nakakuha agad sila ng isang motor doon. Then pumunta sila sa Carmona, kumuha ulit sila (They stole a motor vehicle in Timbao, Biñan. Then they went to Carmona and got another one),” Carmona CPS Chief Lt. Col. Jefferson P. Ison told the Manila Bulletin.

“Ang gawi nila, para madala nila 'yung tatlong sasakyan, 'yung dalawang motor muna uunahin nila, tapos babalikan nila 'yung tricycle. Then 'yung tricycle at isang motor, fo-forward sila, then babalikan 'yung isa pa. Pina-park-park nila (To bring the vehicles, they would ride the two scooters, park one, and come back for the tricycle. Then, they will ride the tricycle and a scooter, go forward, and come back for the other scooter. They park the vehicles as needed).”

After backtracking the CCTV footage, intelligence operatives were able to locate and arrest the suspects.

Operatives also learned that the suspects sold one of the stolen motor vehicles to a buyer in Valenzuela City.

Photos from Cavite Police Provincial Office (MANILA BULLETIN)

Ison said they have so far confiscated one tricycle from the suspects and recovered six carnapped motor vehicles. They are still investigating whether they stole and sold more of these vehicles.

Maingat and Floretes are now under the custody of Carmona CPS and are facing carnapping charges.