Thieves crash car escaping police

 THE driver of a getaway vehicle involved in an armed robbery in Lae abandoned it in a police chase.

The vehicle crashed into a Catholic priest’s house.

The 10 suspects left behind K4258 in cash, a factory-made pistol and home-made guns and fled on foot.

The armed gang held up Morobe Pharmacy at Top Town around 1pm on Tuesday and escaped with an undisclosed amount in a blue 10-seater vehicle.

Police were alerted and pursued the gang along the highway. The thugs opened fire at them. Met Supt Anthony Wagambie Jr said eight shots were fired but the police persisted without firing back.

When the thugs realised that they were cornered, the driver turned into St Joseph’s Technical College at 8-Mile.

Wagambie said during the chase, the driver panicked and jumped out of the vehicle leaving the others inside.

The vehicle veered off the road and crashed into the priest’s house at the back of the college. The suspects then jumped out and opened fire as they fled. “Police pursued on foot but were unable to capture the suspects,” Wagambie said. 

However, police recovered the cash and weapons. 

“Some suspects are believed to have received gunshot wounds and the public are urged to keep an eye for suspicious faces with bullet wounds,” Wagambie said.

Investigation is continuing with assistance of CCTV camera footage.

He applauded police for following rules by not firing back.