A security supervisor and an ambulance driver were shot by criminals this morning at the Hagita Estate and rushed to Alotau Hospital.
Milne Bay Acting Provincial Police Commander, Chief Inspector George Baiyagau, said the robbers targeted the estate’s BSP ATM machine and made away with cash in the ATM.
Chief Inspector Baiyagau said the robbery took place at 3am.
He said the seven fully armed suspects used a chainsaw to cut through the estate’s wooden fence to gain access, then held up the security guards and proceeded to use the chainsaw to cut open a shop’s door.
They then used the chainsaw again to cut around the wall that was holding the BSP ATM, which was in the store.
They then cut the ATM, removed the safe and took off in a white 10-seater, heading towards the border of Central and Milne Bay Province.
The vehicle was then abandoned at Figo.
PPC Baiyagau said the suspects are well known in Alotau and have been involved in various criminal activities.
Three of them are escapees from Giligili Jail and Bomana.
Baiyagau calls on the community to rise up against these criminals and help police make arrests.
Meanwhile, Bank South Pacific expressed disappointment over this act and said they will not replace the ATM until security in the area improves.
BSP general manager retail, Paul Thornton, said BSP takes banking to all provinces of Papua New Guinea as well as to many districts and such criminal attacks result in important community services being disrupted.