People buying stolen vehicles will be treated as thieves: Police

PEOPLE who are buying stolen vehicles in Southern Highlands and parts of Hela are warned to think twice before spending their money because they will be hunted down along with the culprits who sold them, police have warned.
Southern Highlands police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari issued the stern warning that those caught in possession of the vehicles would be treated as thieves.
It follows the arrest of a buyer in Tari who purchased a vehicle that was stolen from the Southern Highlands provincial treasury staff.
Lakari said in the past many vehicles could have been stolen in Mendi and not recovered.
He said that this certain vehicle was tracked down at Tari town and police managed to pick up the buyer who was inside the car.
Lakari said the Toyota Land Cruiser 10-seater belonging to the provincial treasury was stolen on July 23 in Mendi.
He said the vehicle was parked at home and thugs managed to remove the ignition and drive it away.
“Once the report reached me, I informed all PPCs in the Highlands to get their sectional heads and commands in the region to keep an eye out for the vehicle.
“On June 29 the police mobile group (MS) 10 from Tari managed to sight the vehicle at Tari town and arrested the buyer, who was driving the vehicle,” Lakari said.
Lakari said the vehicle was delivered to him and he returned it to the treasury department.