By PETER MIVA
ARMED robbery was the most prevalent serious crime in Lae city during this month, Metropolitan Supt Nema Mondiai says.
His statistics were from between October 1st and 25th and they revealed that though the nature of the robberies were serious involving violence and the use of guns and knives, the valuables including cash stolen didn’t amount too much.
The rate of crime was almost double the rate for last month but equal to last August.
Police records showed 96 cases for this month and 51 cases for last month.
The 26 armed robberies pushed this moths’ statistics higher than for the last month.
He said that the serious crimes recorded for this month were also lower compared to 77 cases reported last July.
Supt Mondiai said the October statistics were still lower than the 113 serious crimes reported in June, 88 in May, 115 in April, 124 in March and 118 in February.
Supt Mondiai said rape was also prevalent for this month with 11 cases, the same as last month.
But he said this was higher than the eight cases reported in August and July.
Supt Mondiai said that the 11 cases in this month were lower compared to 15 cases in July.
He said the 11 rape cases in October were also lower than the 13 cases reported for April, higher compared to 10 cases in March but lower than the February figure of 15 cases.
Supt Mondiai said there were seven drug offences compared to 10 cases last month and August but these figures were lower compared to 11 in July.
There were 13 break-and-enters in October compared to six last month which was higher compared to seven cases in August, 11 in July.
Grievous bodily harm recorded eight cases this month which was high compared to four cases in September.
But Mr Mondiai said this was lower than the 13 reported cases in August, but higher than the five reported cases in July.
Supt Mondiai said murders remained at two cases from last month, lower than the 13 cases in August.
He said these two murder cases were also lower than the six cases in July but higher than the lone case in June.
Police recorded six stealing cases involving amounts more than K1,000, five arson cases, two abductions, one police shooting, and two motor vehicle thefts.
The figures also showed that out of the 96 serious crimes committed, 61 arrests were made.
Meanwhile, 24 other arrests were made for crimes reported for the previous months.