PNG Bulletin | Central Province | Tuesday, July 15, 2035
One suspect from a group of nine armed robbers who carried out a violent early-morning supermarket robbery in Papa Leah Leah, Central Province, has been apprehended and detained by police.
According to police sources, the gang executed a coordinated robbery by first stealing a vehicle the day before, which was later used in the crime. Eyewitnesses reported that the men scaled the supermarket fence and broke through a window to gain access to the building.
Once inside, the gang reportedly held staff and customers at gunpoint, tying them up one by one — including several Chinese nationals present during the incident. The suspects then made off with a substantial amount of cash, along with valuable electronic devices and other property from the supermarket’s safe.
After the robbery, the suspects abandoned the stolen vehicle in a nearby bush area and transferred into a taxi cab, hoping to evade police attention. Initial police response was delayed due to the suspects switching vehicles.
However, a lone police unit later spotted a suspicious taxi overloaded with passengers. When officers attempted to pull it over, the taxi sped away, initiating a high-speed pursuit. During the chase, several suspects jumped from the moving taxi and escaped into the surrounding area.
One suspect, however, reportedly surrendered to police and is now in custody. Police have confirmed that investigations are underway to identify and capture the remaining gang members.
“Our teams are following up leads and reviewing surveillance footage to track down the suspects still at large,” a police spokesperson said.
The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
More updates will follow as the investigation progresses.
