Madang residents raise concerns over rise in crime

A RECENT increase in law and order problems in Madang has caused concern among the public.
Businesswoman Rose Murka, who visited Madang on business, said she was shocked to witness petty crimes such as bag snatching done in a town and community she expected to be peaceful.
Murka said her friend’s bag was snatched by a boy and when she came to her friend’s defence they were threatened with a knife before the youth ran off with the bag containing important documents.
He said some bystanders chased the boy, who was part of a group, and managed to return the bag but demanded a payment before handing the bag over.
A number of residents interviewed said they noticed an increase in pick pocketing, armed robberies in shops.
Ward eight councillor Samson Gaan said youths were taking advantage of the absence of police, who were had been deployed to the Mangem care centre and Bunabun tribal fights.
Gaan added that Madang town was in need of more police personnel however there were no houses to accommodate them and called for the government to seriously look into increasing police presence in the province.
Provincial police commander chief inspector Ben Neneo could not be reached for comment.