World | Philippines
Hijackers abandon car as fuel runs out
A group of car thieves stole a sports utility vehicle in suburban Quezon City recently only to be stranded after they ran out of fuel.
- By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:44 February 3, 2008
Manila: A group of car thieves stole a sports utility vehicle in suburban Quezon City recently only to be stranded after they ran out of fuel.
The black Ford Expedition owned by former Quezon City councilor Rommel "Abe" Abesamis was probably already sputtering on its last few drops of fuel past midnight on Wednesday when three car thieves pounced on it and took it at gunpoint from the former city official's chauffeur, police said.
The thieves were able to take the vehicle only a few metres before it came to a stop as it ran out of fuel, reports said.
Unable to get the SUV to move, the bungling trio abandoned the stolen vehicle on a dimly-lit part of a highway. In the thieves' haste they left behind items that police later used to identify them. The items included an assault rifle, a wallet containing one of the thieves' identification card and a bag.
Reports said police are pursuing one of the thieves, whose identification card was found.
Prior to the car theft attempt, Abesamis was forced to park his vehicle on the highway to buy gas as the fuel gauge showed the tank was nearly empty.
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