Poverty driving crime rise: Supt

Population growth and widespread economic hardship are the primary drivers behind the recent surge in criminal activities in Morobe’s capital, police say.

Lae Metropolitan Superintendent Chris Kunyanban said police investigations revealed a concerning shift in local crime trends, where offenders are moving away from stealing cash and high-value items, targeting basic survival necessities like food and clothing instead.

Met Supt Kunyanban said the trend directly reflects the level of poverty and hardship currently affecting urban families.

He said recent criminal activities have increasingly involved teenagers, young children, and women.

Following instances of public retaliation, Kunyanban issued a warning to residents against taking the law into their own hands when apprehending suspects.

"We have laws that can protect you, therefore, please do not take the law into your own hands," he said.

He warned criminals that the public is now hyper-aware of their activities and urged them to refrain from lawlessness.

The police boss said Lae residents are growing weary of ongoing opportunistic crime and are beginning to take community ownership to minimize and eradicate mischief in their suburbs.

Kunyanban called on local communities to work directly with the police force, suggesting the establishment of neighborhood watch programs. He also urged state institutions and commercial properties to install functional closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems to boost security monitoring.

Meanwhile, police investigations are underway into the recent breaking and entering incidents at two higher education institutions in PNG University of Technology [Unitech] and the National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea.