Laslas bag modus operandi

Christmas season triggers a lot of activities in many people. One of which among the evil minded is the laslas bag modus operandi prevalent especially in jeepneys and buses. While gang members do it whole year round, frequency escalates during holiday season both because of financial need of the culprits and the increase of income of the public.

The malefactor
Generally they do it in tandem or trio. One is the executor while the others serve as a distractor, look out or back up just in case the job is foiled by the target or by anybody and attempts to apprehend or confront them. Greedy ones may operate singly though.

The victim
Anybody who carries a bag may be the target. They do not have a specific profile of their prospective victims. I’ve heard stories and seen people who do not look like moneyed people but fell victim nonetheless. For as long as you fall to their set up, you become the prey.

Sometimes, they are pre-positioned inside the jeep according to their set up. Other times they scout passing vehicles from the outside and identify those they can easily set up.

In one of my experiences, the culprits are already inside the jeep and placed themselves in such a way that upon boarding, we will sit between them. They managed to cut my gf’s bag but failed to take the wallet.

The distractor
This guy’s role is to distract the target victim by any means in order get his attention away from his bag while being slashed by the executor. They may talk loudly or annoy the victim by frequent moving of their limbs, or any other means just to make sure you move your attention away from your belongings. In my experience, the person acted like a feeble-minded.

He is either beside the victim or in front of him. If he is beside the victim, he makes sure the victim does not move away from the distractor.

The executor sometimes performs this act. In one instance, the executor had this terrible underarm odor that the victim literally tilted her head away from him, and he himself successfully slashed the bag.

The tools
The bag is cut or slashed by using a small razor sharp blade. The act of cutting the bag is concealed by using a large bag enough to cover the hand of the executor. So be wary when the one sitting beside you has a bag on his lap. I saw one using a travelling bag. But others use smaller bags.

When do they operate?
They do it at any time of the day whether in broad daylight or nighttime.

TIPS to avoid being a victim of laslas gang:
Do not sit in between guys especially those with large bags.
Make sure both hands of your seatmates are visible. If one is not, beware.
Watch out when a person transfers beside you.
Do not place you bag parallel to your body; but rather perpendicularly.
Sit near the driver.