Gang steals K100,000

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
A MEMBER of an armed gang who robbed a shop in Northern and made off with about K100,000 in cash and goods has been found dead, local police say.
Northern police commander Chief Insp Daniel Yangen said his officers were preoccupied with the recent incident involving the burning down of a number of houses and property belong to Binandere settlers when a group of 10 armed men robbed YC Supermarket in Popondetta.
“The police were caught off guard as the focus was on the standoff between provincial administrator Trevor Magei and the Binandere settlers when about 10 men held up the YC Supermarket in Popondetta town at about 8am on Monday,” he said.
“They were armed with a pump action gun, a shot gun, a homemade gun and knives.”
Chief Insp Yangen said the shop’s CCTV cameras caught the robbery. He said the gang posted two members to guard the entrance while the rest went in and held up the manager, who lived in the back of the shop, and staff.
They forced the manager to open the shop’s safe and took K80,000 in cash, mobile phones, Flex cards and cigarettes worth about K20,000.
“The public who were outside wanted to confront the suspects but were scared by the armed suspects who were placed outside the shop,” he said.
The suspects sped off towards Niugini compound along the Kokoda Highway.
Police pursued the suspects who fired at them.
The getaway vehicle was abandoned at Mauzetta village and police recovered some of the stolen items including some money.
Chief Insp Yangen said his officers also found a dead suspect lying on the ground.
He said the rest of the gang escaped into the forest.