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Robbery foiled
By ZACHERY PER
QUICK action by the Goroka police foiled an attempted armed robbery at
the Best Buy Supermarket in the centre of Goroka town last Easter
Sunday.
Policemen avoided gunshots fired at them and apprehend two suspects
allegedly involved in the attempted armed robbery.
Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Philip Solala
yesterday said seven men, armed with a factory made pistol, a home-made
gun and three bush knives tried to hold up security guards and employees
at the Best Buy supermarket at around 11:45am on Sunday when a police
response unit intervened.
As the gang were fleeing, they shot a security guard in the right leg
and snatched a bag belonging to an unidentified Air Niugini pilot and
his girlfriend on vacation in Goroka. The bag contained a mobile phone,
identification cards and a wallet containing K170 in cash, according to
police.
Supt Solala said his men gave chase and apprehended one of the thugs at
the back of the Genoka settlement.
According to one of the policemen engaged in the operation, they could
have arrested all of them if their vehicle had not run out of fuel.
He said when their vehicle ran out of fuel, they abandoned it and gave
chase on foot and succeeded in apprehending one of the suspects.
He added that two of the suspects arrested also had in their possession
several grams of dried marijuana.
The suspects fired several shots at the policemen in pursuit as they ran
towards the drain and the bushes at the back of Genoka settlement.
A policeman who pursued the suspects could not return fire due to the
presence of members of the public at the scene.
Supt Solala said police knew the identities of the suspects and are
certain of apprehending the five suspects involved in the incident. They
are still at large.
He also warned the public that the suspects were dangerous and has
appealed to the public to cooperate with police to apprehend them.
 
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