New trend of robbery puts Lae police on alert

Criminal elements in Lae are now coming up with different tactics in robbing unsuspecting business houses.

On Thursday at about 9:30am more than 10 men, some dressed in various school uniforms entered the Able computing store with the intention to rob the shop.

The unsuspecting staff and security guards, deceived by the uniforms, didn’t think it was a robbery until the men held them up using guns and machetes.

Within ten minutes, the shop was looted; laptops, mobile phones and other products on display were taken while one of the security guards was slashed badly.

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambi Junior said the suspects escaped in a waiting vehicle, which was later abandoned at a secluded location at the back of Papua Compound.

Whilst police were alerted and responded to the robbery; CID personnel on foot managed to capture two suspects with another three captured later in the day at the back of Somu Street, in possession of homemade guns, ammunitions and some of the stolen properties.

Three of the suspects were identified through CCTV whilst four of them have been arrested and charged with armed robbery and attempted murder for one.

Wagambie says he is confident that there will be more arrests made – and investigations will be carried out to capture the rest of the suspects. 

He adds that there are now many young men being involved in armed robbery and other illegal activities; this recent robbery has prompted the police to be on high alert in dealing with this situation. 

Author: 
Imelda Wavik