A grey Toyota Fortuner that was found without tires along San Juan Street in Barangay 8, Bacolod City, caused a stir online after photos of the vehicle went viral, many suspecting a case of theft.
But the police said there was no theft involved, the tires were removed by the vehicle owner himself.
Maj. Eugene Tolentino, Bacolod Police Station 2 commander, said on Friday, August 1, that the vehicle was located by its owner through GPS tracking after the person who rented the car failed to return it and settle a balance of around P37,500.
When the owner found the SUV parked near a mall and condominium, he removed all four wheels and placed the vehicle on jack stands to prevent further use.
The renter kept the keys and had not responded to the owner, prompting the latter to take action.
Initial concerns from the public stemmed from social media posts that suggested the SUV may have been targeted by thieves.
“We encourage the public to avoid jumping to conclusions to prevent unnecessary panic,” Tolentino said.
He added that no theft complaint has been filed, and this was simply a dispute between the car owner and a renter who defaulted on payment.*