By PETER MIVA
ARMED robbers held up a motorist near the Omili Guest House at Kamkumung in Lae and robbed him of K5,790 in cash and other personal items last Friday night.
The man had driven from Goroka with a friend and was driving into the hostel at around 11pm when accosted by four men brandishing bush knives.
Metropolitan Supt Nema Mondiai said the thugs forced the victim out of the vehicle, threatened him and stole his waist bag containing the cash, an airline ticket and three mobile phones.
They then escaped on foot, he said. Police know the identities of two of the men and were expected to make arrests soon.
In a separate armed robbery, a gunman walked into Crossbie Tyres agencies near the main market with a factory-made .38 revolver, held up the four accounts staff and stole more than K6,000 last Wednesday afternoon.
Supt Mondiai said the robber arrived in a blue Mazda utility with an accomplice who waited outside. He rushed out to the waiting vehicle and fled towards the Works compound where he abandoned the vehicle, got into another and escaped.
He said police were informed later but could do little.