Tips for motorcycle taxi riders to avoid road crimes

The tragic fate of two motorcycle taxi riders was recently reported, who were killed by thieves who posed as passengers in Caloocan and Cavite.

What are the things that should be done to avoid street crimes?

In “Unang Hirit” this Friday, Kier Gabriel Tampos, Phd., RCrim, a practicing criminologist and certified Criminal Profiling Specialist, expressed his condolences to the victims.

He said the rider who was killed in Cavite was his former Criminology student, whom the suspect first contracted in Manila to take him to the place where he was shot and killed.

"Events are happening very quickly. Every week, there are crimes happening, especially those involving our motorcycle riders who are becoming victims," ​​said Tampos.

Based on his observations, motorcycle taxi riders are usually the targets of thieves because apart from the fact that criminals can sell motorcycles quickly, they are also the ones who often travel during the early hours of the morning.

If sold illegally, the price of stolen motorcycles ranges from P20,000 to P50,000.

To avoid criminals, riders should remember the code T.A.S. or Look, Leave and Follow.

Look - Observe the passenger when he disembarks. See if you have a knife or ice pick with you. Manmanan is also the place.

Leave - Riders must be prepared when passengers disembark. If someone is seen holding a knife, run immediately to avoid it.

Follow - But if the thief has caught you, it's better to just obey what is being done, because life is important.

"Put down all the equipment. And the criminal, the suspect, focus on the equipment. This is the chance to run away, sir," said Tampos.

“Don't fight anymore, sir,” he said, adding that it would be better to just hand over the wallet or cellphone.

Meanwhile, a holdup was also reported at a burger stand where the culprit entered the stall himself in Pandi, Bulacan.

Tampos advised to lock the store and have employees be prepared as well.

“It takes three seconds, sir, to make a decision when the imminent danger is right there,” he said.

“This time, the woman fought back. Fortunately, she was not a victim of serious violence herself,” said Tampos.

Finally, it is said that it is better to follow one's "instinct" or hunch.

“Always be careful. We need to observe the passengers, our surroundings. And our instincts, we need to follow them. This is what helped us. I believe in this, sir, that if you sense a person with a negative vibe, then just avoid them, sir,” said Tampos.

In an interview with Romeo Maglunsod, chairperson, Motorcycle Taxi Community Alliance on Super Radyo dzBB, he advised fellow motor taxi riders to drop off their passengers at the right location, or in front of a house, barangay, or office, and in a well-lit area, to avoid any bad intentions on their part. — BAP, GMA News