STA. BARBARA—Lawmen believe they have busted a carnapping syndicate operating in Central Pangasinan that is targeting motorcycles with the arrest of a barangay councilman of Payas, Sta. Barbara on Sunday.

Arrested was Gerry Carpio who is being pinpointed as the leader of the motorcycle theft gang believed responsible for stealing several motorcycles in the central part of the province, including Dagupan.

Carpio was flagged down by operatives of the Sta. Barbara Police and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in front of the town’s market while driving a suspected stolen TMX 155 motorcycle, colored black.

He failed to produce any document to the arresting officers so he was brought to the CIDG headquarters in Dagupan City for questioning.

The motorcycle he was driving was found to have a tampered engine number and probably stolen.

Carpio was earlier pinpointed as the source of a tricycle sidecar sold to a Reggie Cervantes of barangay Maronong, Sta. Barbara which was earlier stolen by unidentified persons in barangay Tebag, Sta Barbara from the owner, Benedicto Manaois.

Operatives of the Sta. Barbara Police and CIDG proceeded to the house of Carpio where they recovered two other motorcycles believed to have been stolen.

One of the motorcycles found was traced to be registered in the name of a certain Mr. Barbiran of Barangay Cablong, Sta. Barbara. (PNA)