MANILA -  Law enforcers are increasing police invisibility on city streets to battle the expected rise in robberies and street crimes ahead of Christmas, a Quezon City Police District official said Monday.

Police Superintendent Marcelino Pedroso of the Quezon City Police District-Intelligence said he expects the number of "riding-in-tandem" robberies and other crimes to increase as the holidays draw near.

"They usually target people who have just withdrawn money from ATM machines," he told ABS-CBN.

On Monday police shot dead two suspected robbers who rode motorcycles to perpetrate their crimes.

Police said the "riding-in-tandem" robbers had just snatched the handbag of victim Michael Erlandes, prompting a Quezon City Police mobile patrol unit to give chase.

They said the suspects shot at them after being cornered on Examiner Avenue, Quezon City. The suspects were killed in the ensuing shootout.