Port Moresby residents should avoid buying vehicles on the street or from unreliable sellers.
NCD metropolitan superintendent, Commander Ben Turi, says police have gotten intel that criminals steal vehicles then restyle them.
The new-look vehicles are then sold to unsuspecting buyers.
When this transaction takes place, the buyer becomes an accomplice.
Turi says it is unwise to purchase illegally – when vehicles are sold without proper documents, it only means that it has been stolen and people should refrain from buying them.
One of the attractions would be the low pricing of the vehicles.
Recently, an Asian businessman was arrested after he purchased four 10-seaters off the street.
Turi says he was charged as an accomplice due to his part in knowing that the transaction was illegal however, he went on to purchase regardless.
“The public must also keep an eye out for these kind of actions and report immediately to their nearest police stations.”