Valenzuela police nab 2 Chinese over staged carnapping for insurance claim
By Hannah Nicol
The Valenzuela City Police arrested two Chinese nationals for allegedly staging a fake carnapping incident to claim insurance benefits.
(File photo)
According to the Northern Police District (NPD), the Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) received a report through the 911 emergency hotline regarding a supposed carnapping along Don Pedro Street, Jade Garden Subdivision in Barangay Marulas on Aug. 17.
Police said the complainant initially claimed that his vehicle was stolen while parked at the subdivision at around 2:30 a.m.
However, CCTV footage later showed a man approaching the vehicle, switching on its lights, and driving it away around 11:50 a.m. on Aug. 16.
Authorities launched an operation and placed all Philippine National Police (PNP) units on alert. Investigators said that the missing vehicle was keyless and can only be accessed by someone with prior knowledge or direct control of it.
In a follow-up operation, police coordinated with the Caloocan City Police Station (CCPS), which traced the vehicle to an auto repair shop in Grace Park, Caloocan, where one of the suspects was arrested on Aug. 21.
Further investigation revealed that the recovered vehicle was not actually owned by the complainant, but another car bearing stolen license plates.
Police also discovered that the complainant collaborated with the suspect by transferring the plates from his wrecked vehicle, which had been previously involved in an accident.
The two suspects are now facing multiple charges, including perjury, illegal transfer of trade, insurance fraud, and misuse of the 911 hotline.