Criminals use PMV buses: police

 CRIMINALS in Lae are hijacking buses and using them for robbery, according to metropolitan commander Supt Iven Lakatani.

This has forced police to set up roadblocks and conduct random checks on buses.

Lakatani warned vehicle owners to alert police immediately if their buses were stolen on highway and city routes.

He referred to an armed hold up at a shop opposite the Central police station at Top Town this week.

“Instead of running over to the police station, the shop owner only called a police officer on patrol;” he said. 

“Police arrived about 20 minutes later at Cassowary Road where the bus was abandoned.”

He could not disclose what was stolen.

“Because the armed gangs are operating in numbers, they are using 15-seater buses to transport them and disguise them as normal passengers,” Lakatani said.

Lakatani also advised companies taking cash to and from banks to request for police escort on top of security guards.

“Police will provide security without any cost at all. But companies need to advise us in advance to arrange a unit for escort,” Lakatani said.