Five members of the “Ipit Gang” who were allegedly pickpocketing students in Ermita and nearby cities were arrested in Manila, police said on Friday, July 18.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified the suspects as “Raffy,” 34; “Brandolph,” 33; “Jomar,” 33; “Danilo,” 32; and “Kyle,” 22, all residents of Old Sta. Mesa, Manila.

They were arrested during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the MPD District Police Intelligence Operations Unit (DPIOU) in Old Sta. Mesa, following a report filed by one of their victims.

DPIOU Chief Maj. Kevin Rey Bautista said the victim went to their office to report being pickpocketed while waiting for public transport in Sta. Ana, en route to Ermita, where the suspects allegedly stole the victim’s cellphone.

The victim identified several individuals from photos that the DPIOU had shown, which included known pickpockets and persons previously under surveillance, most of whom targeted students along Taft Avenue.

With the help of the victim’s phone's GPS tracking feature, authorities were also able to trace its location to Old Sta. Mesa, where they spotted and immediately arrested the suspects. The stolen cellphone was recovered from their possession.

Bautista said the five suspects are part of the “Ipit Gang,” a long-wanted group known for victimizing students. He said the group’s modus involves spotting students carrying expensive phones, sandwiching (“iipitin”) them while boarding a jeep or bus, and then stealing their belongings. Two motorcycles served as the group’s getaway vehicles, which were stationed nearby.

Based on the reports, the gang could steal up to four phones per day while roaming around Remedios, Taft, and Lawton in Ermita, Manila.

Upon checking, it was found that three of the five suspects, whose names were not specified, had previous theft-related cases dating back to 2017 in areas including Pasig, Pasay, and Makati.

Meanwhile, authorities are urging other possible victims to visit the MPD-DPIOU office after three individuals have already positively identified the suspects. At least seven more cases are believed to be linked to the group prior to their arrest.