Bag snatchers change tactic

BAG snatchers in Lae are now practising their craft earlier and later during the day on students and women.
They are now operating between 6am and 6.30am and again between 6.30pm and 7pm.
During the mornings, they snatch bags and remove shoes and lunch monies from students at bus stops at Bumayong, Hunter, Chinatown, market, Boundary Rd, Eriku, Kamkumung and Unitech.
Frustrated residents have been laying complaints to the police to address this new trend that the bag snatchers are taking.
One working woman in Lae said ever since the city council had contracted the Morobe Menyamya security guards to man the main bus stops in the city, the bag snatchers have retaliated and find it convenient to attack before 8am and after 5pm when the security guards are not stationed.
An eye witness said a woman who worked at the BSP bank in town had her bag snatched as she was stepping off the bus to go to work.
Metropolitan Supt Nema Mondiai confirmed that he had received reports of women who had their bags snatched.
He said he would speak to the security management to see if they could reschedule their time slots.