MANILA – Incidents of crimes against property are expected to further increase with the onset of the Christmas season.

Since July, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has recorded a rise in the number of crimes against property in the metropolis.

From a monthly average of 459 from January to June 2009, 781 cases of robbery, theft and carnapping were recorded in July, while 833 were reported in August and 812 in September.

“We would like to reverse the trend by first increasing police visibility. Of course, mayroon mga crime talaga na hindi mo naman ma-de-deter by just mere police visibility. Kailangan doon, active police operation,” NCRPO spokesperson, Superintendent Rommel Miranda told ABS-CBN News.

On Tuesday night, a man wearing a white uniform was killed after he was hit by a vehicle in Manila. Prior to the accident, the man was running after a group of robbers who attacked the FX Taxi he was on. However, while he was pursuing them, he was hit by a passenger jeepney.

Aside from robbery incidents on board public transportation vehicles, the NCRPO said the increase in cases also involve crimes committed by the Akyat Bahay, Ipit, Salisi, Agaw Cellphone, and Laglag Barya gangs.

Preventive measures, like police visibility and checkpoints, have already been put in place, particularly since the busy season of Christmas is near.

Police have placed additional checkpoints in September and will set up more by December.

They will also be securing malls and other big establishments with hopes of preventing crimes. -- report by Cecille Lardizabal, ABS-CBN News with Bandila and ANC’s Dateline Philippines