Mobile phone top-up vendors were removed at Lae’s Eriku bus stop in a move by local youths to clamp down on street vending and petty crimes.
This follows a rife in lawlessness in the recent weeks, which has disrupted freedom of movement for the public within the Eriku vicinity.
Eriku has been a name synonymous with petty crimes and street vendors when it comes to law and order issues in Lae city.
In the heart of the city, it is the shopping hub for people coming from all over Morobe and highlands.
Instances of petty crimes over the last two months have triggered concerns of public security from Morobeans including the public.
These group of youths have taken on board the initiative to look after Eriku, keeping it free from street vendors and pick pockets.
Much of the blame has been leveled against Digicel top up vendors who, they say, have been harboring street vendors WHO’sell betel nut and cigarettes.
In the recent weeks, Lae residents have raised concerns over the alarming rise in criminal activities.
From Tuesday to Friday this week, a woman at boundary road documented four instances of armed hold-ups, car thefts, and bag snatchings.
In another incident on Thursday, a young woman was raped in Lae’s top town area.
Seven suspects have since been arrested.
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