POLICE anti-car theft operatives have busted one of the most notorious car theft syndicates operating in Southern Mindanao and the Caraga regions following a series of operations that led to the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of 12 ‘hot cars’, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr.

Cerbo said on Sunday that the suspects belong to the notorious Baktin car-theft group, whose leader Ryan “Baktin” Yu is now the subject of a police manhunt operation.

He identified those arrested as Jerry Malacao Paulino, 30, Diego LIngasa Macatimbag, 19, and Eddie Tabanao Lopez, 19, all residents of Davao City.

According to Cerbo, the said car theft syndicate has links to the similarly notorious Dominguez Group in Luzon.

PNP chief, Dir. Gen. Nicanor Bartolome, immediately directed Police Regional Directors in Mindanao and Visayas to open all lines of inter-unit coordination and support as he instructed the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to sustain the momentum of the recent breakthrough against the Baktin car theft group.

HPG director Chief Supt. Arrazad Subong said that follow-up operations are underway against the ringleader and his group.

He said that Yu, along with four of his arrested colleagues have been charged in court for violation of Republic Act 6539 (Anti Carnapping Act of 1972) in connection with their latest involvement in a car theft incident in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur province.

According to Subong, in the morning of October 16, 2012, the group stole a Toyota Innova (LHB-816) owned by agro-industrial company Sumifro in Mabua, Tandag City.

Sumifro security officers told the local police that the suspects had a back-up vehicle, a Hyundai Tuczon (KFP-842). According to the HPG files, Sumifro personnel identified Yu as one of the car thieves.

Later that day, Highway Patrol operatives spotted the stolen Toyota Innova at Brgy. Lungsod, Tandag City with attached license plates KET-883 driven by a certain Hermie Talabe.

A follow-up operation at Yu’s bodega in Brgy. Obreo, Davao City where the car thieves’ getaway Hyundai Tuczon (KFP-842) was spotted led to the recovery of a Toyota Hi-Ace Grandia (KDP-869), a Honda Fit (MFH-580), and a Kia Carens without license plates.

Another follow-up operation in, Surigao del Sur resulted in the recovery of: a Ford Ranger (TAI-674), Mitsubishi Montero (LGL-133), Toyota SUV (KEC-234), Honda Jazz (KDS-302), Isuzu DMAX (YBD-588), Toyota Hi-max (LFW-618), Mitsubishi Lancer (KFE-882), and Toyota Hi-max (XHY-871)

All recovered cars are now undergoing macro-etching examination to restore the true identification and establish the history of the cited vehicles.