Lae Police

Residents cautioned of new criminal trends

Chief superintendent, Chris Kunyanban, said petty criminals are changing tactics, especially at the main bus stops.

Commuters in Lae have been warned to remain vigilant as petty criminals have now changed the way they conduct their activities due to constant police presence and CCTVs.

Kunyanban said petty thieves sometimes pose as PMV bus drivers or crew, where they stand near buses and call out the route. Commuters, believing their scam, would lower their guard. Once the bus drives off, the thugs would turn on the nearby commuters and rob them.

Lae leaders urged to assist police

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, Chris Kunyanban, issued this appeal in his New Year message.

The Lae metropolitan command will begin its New Year operations starting at 6pm this evening and ending at 6am on January 1st, 2021.

They will be visiting every suburb and especially the settlements to ensure residents peacefully welcome the New Year.

Considering their limited logistics and manpower, Kunyanban is calling on the community to help them.

Frustrated Lae residents petition police

Today, concerned members presented a petition to the Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, giving the law enforcers 14 days to respond to their demands.

A petition calling for immediate police action against petty criminals at bus stops was handed to the Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, Chris Kunyanban.

The petition had 712 signatures on paper, while social media support is still pouring in.

Holding cells overcrowded: Lae police

Metropolitan Superintendent, Chris Kunyanban, said this was a factor behind a recent escape from the cells.

Kunyanban said detainees recently cut through the Lae holding cells fence and escaped when they were taken out to have their shower.

And while the fence has been fixed, the problem still remains; and that is overcrowding.

Kunyanban said while those who escaped were held for minor crimes, the cells also have people who have been remanded as well as convicted prisoners.

Lae police praised for by-election conduct

Operations Commander, Chief Inspector John Daviaga, thanked his men and women for behaving and working well together to witness the election of a new Member of Parliament for Menyamya.

Newly-elected MP, Benjamin Philip, also commended the men and women in blue for ensuring a safe election.

He said: “I have witnessed their conduct and I must commend them for a great job throughout the election. They have indeed demonstrated a great deal of policing and I say thank you.”

Police awareness on scam messages

For example, mobile phone users are not immune to random text messages telling them they are the lucky winners of a huge amount of money. Because of this, Lae police have decided to raise awareness on the issue.

Lae police recently highlighted that a group of people are texting random mobile users, scamming them into thinking they have won a large sum of money.

In response, police have advised the public to be critical when receiving messages that seem too good to be true – because they probably are.

Bangladeshi charged with sexual assault

Between 1st of February to 30th of September 2019, then suspect, Howlader Ripol, allegedly continuously harassed two female (names withheld) employees while working for Somi Enterprise located within the Papuan Compound.

According to a statement obtained from the 19-year-old victim, she was harassed whilst performing her duties on numerous occasions.

Most times, police were told the suspect watches porn videos on his cellphone and tells the victim to watch with him but the female employee refuses when realising that the movies contain sexual contents.

New Madang ward members in police custody

The suspects, who are Madang-based, were driving into Lae when they were stopped at Eriku near LFA and searched by Special Response Unit 102.

They allegedly found quantities of drugs under the front passenger seat.

“The driver of the vehicle was also found to be carrying a loaded factory made pistol with live ammunition. The pistol has been confiscated with the person in possession of it, a newly elected Council Ward Member, arrested and charged for being unlicensed,” reported Lae police.

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Armed gang members shot dead

At about 12.30pm on Friday, an armed robbery was carried out in a busy shopping area by a gang who had stolen a 15-seater bus earlier.

Lae police report that the bus was stolen with passengers onboard next to the Sir Ignatius Kilage stadium.

“Criminals posing as genuine passengers held up the bus crew and passengers and directed them to Two-Mile, where the rest of the gang was,” reported police.

Missing child ends up in officer’s home

On July 1st, without her family noticing, she ran after her elder brother who had gone to Kamkumung market in Lae.

Lae police said: “Along the way, she was enticed by a young man believed to be from Highlands, when he gave her a K2 and told her that they would buy lollies. He then got her on a PMV bus with him and travelled to the Raun Wara area.