Taguig police warn of ‘sauce distraction’ modus on jeepneys

Taguig police sounded the alarm on a new “sauce distraction” modus after pickpockets nearly duped a jeepney passenger with a staged spill and tissue trick. “Nagbabala ang Taguig City Police Station sa publiko hinggil sa isang bagong modus operandi na target ang mga commuter, batay sa ulat ng isang concerned citizen (The Taguig City Police Station is warning the public about a new modus operandi targeting commuters, based on a report from a concerned citizen),” the police announced on Facebook. The warning came after a netizen posted photos of jackets stained with sauce. “For awareness! Lalo na ‘yung mga sumasakay ng Jeep pa DOST [Department of Science and Technology] jan! (For awareness! Especially those who ride Jeep going to DOST!),” netizen Nics Patilla-Malonzo wrote. She recounted that while riding a jeepney, three men boarded — one pretending to be lame to sit beside her cousin, while the other two flanked her. Her cousin’s jacket was suddenly smeared with sauce, and one of the men offered tissue, urging her to put her cellphone in her bag so she could wipe the stain properly. Sensing something was off, she refused and kept her phone in her hand. Her cousin later told her that another passenger, a student from Taguig City University, had the same experience with sauce stains and suspicious seatmates. Patilla-Malonzo warned that this was no coincidence but a deliberate modus operandi targeting jeepney riders along the Pasay-DOST route. Police reminded the public to be vigilant at all times, especially while on public transportation and in crowded areas. “Avoid contact or receiving help from unknown individuals, and make sure to always have, guard, and secure personal belongings such as cellphones, wallets, and bags,” the police said.