Lae Metropolitan Superintendent

“There was an armed robbery at about 4pm yesterday at a Chinese shop situated next to Saint Mary's Primary School, away from the main shopping centre,” Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr said.

The new sector patrol, installed by the Lae Police Command, had been effective, with timely responses to major crimes in the city. 

 “The response time and men on foot were less than ten minutes,” Wagambie Jnr said.   

“Two suspects apprehended with their weapons and stolen cash.

The Lae Police command under the helm of Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr is responding faster to crimes committed in the Morobe provincial capital.       

That was evident in apprehending three suspects involved in the BNBM Hardware robbery on Monday, after police blocked off their escape routes when alarm was raised of the crime.         

Wagambie Jnr said “police in Lae have adopted the Sector Patrol Concept of policing which is supported by our Sector Response Unit (SRU) and Mobile Sqaud 13.

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr said the attempted armed robbery happened at BNBM Hardware at about 8.30am.

“A gang of more than six men stormed the shop and held up security guards, staff and customers.

“They proceeded to the administration office and tried to get cash from the safe but resistance was put up by the Chinese national manager.

“The armed robbers attacked him by stabbing him with knives.” 

Wagambie Jnr said quick police response when alerted resulted in three of the suspects and weapons used in the robbery apprehended.   

That is an appeal from Lae Police command boss, Anthony Wagambie Jnr.  

Metropolitan Superintendent Wagambie Jnr said, police will remain neutral and allow the election process to take place in a transparent manner.

“I want to appeal to everyone to take ownership of the election process to make it safe, fair and trouble free.”

 Wagambie Jnr said police will also be involved in awareness as part of its community obligation.

According to Lae Metropolitan Superintendent, Anthony Wagambie Jnr, the murder suspect was earlier arrested for two murder cases, but escaped in February 2016 while being held in custody at Buimo Correctional facility.

Wagambie Jnr said the suspect had averted arrest on numerous occasions because of the aide of his supporters at Butibam village.     

“Whilst on the run, he has been threatening and harassing the village community.

“Police were informed of his whereabouts on Saturday, and surrounded his hiding location where he was apprehended.

Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr said most of the people arrested were because of alcohol related offences.         

“I commend my personnel who worked double shifts throughout the long weekend to ensure public safety was maintained.”

 Wagambie Jnr said random road blocks conducted at night were aided by the kind donation of portable blue lights by Lae based companies Niugini Electrical and NFC Freighters.

Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr said operations started well on Good Friday.

“I have instructed all my personnel to keep on identifying defective buses (and private vehicles).

“We are not issuing Traffic Infringement Notices but arrests.

 Wagambie Jnr said many PMV buses have been pulled off the road  during the operation.

“If they want to conduct business they must always put public safety as their priority.

“We will maintain our stance until we are able to have safe and quality service for our people.

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr made this comment following crimes committed by people out on Court Bail in the Morobe provincial capital.  

“Police will be consulting the Public Prosecutor," he said.

People who become bail guarantors should also be dealt with when the defendant breaches bail  conditions. 

Meanwhile, a suspect has been apprehended in connection to the armed robbery at Rabtrad Supermarket last Saturday.

Wagambie Jnr said the suspect was identified on the CCTV footage because he was not wearing a mask.

Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr confirmed that the body was discovered by people living nearby when they went down to the river in the early hours of the morning.

“The deceased has been identified as a young woman from Eastern Highlands and resides at Talair Compound,"said Wagambie Jnr.

Initial enquiry by CID personnel found that she had gone out with a known male on Tuesday night. 

“The male subject will be picked up when located and will be interviewed.

“What happened from then on is a matter for police investigations to establish.

About five armed men walked into the premises at around 10am in the pretext of being customers and went straight to the administration office, held up workers and made off with a substantial amount of cash in a waiting vehicle.  

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Anthony Wagambie Jnr said the gang were armed with factory and homemade guns and execute the robbery with precise within 10 minutes.

“Police were informed after this had happened but by then the suspects had already gone to the nearby seafront where they boarded a waiting dinghy and made the getaway.”