Stick up artists caught using hearse as getaway car

Manila Two robbers who victimised a businesswoman practically fell into the hands of authorities moments after their heist after they tried to use an a funeral vehicle for a getaway vehicle.

Ruben Faustino Esquivel Jr., 32 and Antonio Bernabe, 32, broke into the Poblacion, Norzagaray, Bulacan residence of Victoria de la Cruz last Sunday while the businesswoman was out of the house.

The burglars carted away her valuables including an iPod, two mobile phones, perfumes, jewellery, a camera and a 9mm pistol among others, police said.

Returning to her house, Dela Cruz reported the burglary incident.

Police led by Supt. Miguel Atienza promptly put up roadblocks and checkpoints near the scene of the crime.

Police at a checkpoint in the sub-village of Tabtab flagged down a vehicle around 9:30pm and inspected the passengers who turned out to be Faustino and Esquivel.

Faustino and Esquivel nearly pulled off their caper had it not been for the suspicious getaway vehicle they used — a funeral van marked "Funeraria," as well as the stolen pistol which was found tucked on Esquivel's waist.

Atienza said the duo had probably chosen to use a funeral vehicle for their getaway thinking authorities would allow it past the checkpoint.

Had the robbers chose to make an escape with their vehicle and ram through the checkpoint, it would have been unlikely that they would have gone far because their funeral vehicle is not fast enough.