Gulf police boss reports four robberies

FOUR armed robberies occurred over three weeks along the Taure and Lakekamu Rivers in Gulf.
Provincial police commander Senior Insp Jeffery Lemb said there had been two other armed robberies on Taure and Lakekamu a couple of months earlier.
He said the recent robberies occurred on Nov 8 between 10am and 11am at Muviri Block along the Lakekamu.
“Six suspects allegedly used factory-made guns and bush knives to hold up five victims and took their properties and cash valued at K114,600 and 165 grams of gold valued at K39,600.”
“Most of the suspects involved are known.
“The complainant from Moveave, Heavala village said he had sent his family for early Christmas shopping but were robbed on the river on their way down to the main highway.”
Lemb said the second robbery took place on Nov 24 between 10pm and midnight at Fish Creek along the Taure River.
He said six suspects armed with homemade guns held up eight victims and got properties and cash valued at K24,000 and 50 grams and 25 grams of gold valued at K18,000 plus K6,000 in cash.
“The complainant from Malalaua was travelling with seven others towards Houpoe to catch a public transport to Port Moresby when they were held up,” Lemb said.
“Two victims were injured after receiving gun butts from the suspects and some of the victims are yet to give details of what they lost in that robbery.”
He said the third robbery involved a stolen dinghy at Ekopu village on Nov 30.
“More than 10 went up the Taure River towards Tapave White Stone waterfront where they left the dinghy with three gang members.”
Two well-known suspects and five others from Tari left on foot towards Ekopu village at about 7am.
He said the suspects arrived at Ekopu at around noon or 1pm and went straight to the victims pretending to be store customers or travellers passing through.
“The victim saw them coming and he was suspicious.
“He left his old father in the trade store and ran to his in-laws who lived nearby.
“While he was gone the suspects went in, held up the old man and tied him up before rampaging through the trade store and house upstairs looking for money, gold and other valuable items.
“He ran towards his store along with his brother-in-law armed with bows and arrows.
When the suspects saw them coming they fired shots.”
Lemb said the suspects were armed and the victim and his in-laws attacked the suspects with bows and arrows.
“One escaped, reached the White Stone area where the getaway dinghy was waiting.
After an hour the locals gathered and chased the men all the way to the area and started shooting at them with arrows from across the river, so they escaped downstream leaving the gang leader and other five to defend themselves in the bushes.”
He said they were believed to be dead by now or escaped injured.
“It is alleged that the suspects stole K47,350 and 10.5 grams of gold in a small container when they went through the store and house.”