Police investigate armed robbery in Shortlands

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force is investigating an alleged armed robbery at the Malohuna logging camp in the Harapa area of the Shortland Islands, Western Province early Sunday morning.

It was alleged seven men, believed to be from Bougainville, were armed with firearms when they robbed the camp manager, removed goods from the canteen, and stole three chainsaws, a mobile phone, torches and other items.

Supervising Assistant Commissioner Provincial, Chief Superintendent Anika Nausi said officers on the Police Response Team have been deployed to the Shortland Islands to provide security for investigators on the ground.

Ms Nausi said additional police investigators, including community policing and forensic officers with a police patrol boat, were deployed to Western Province to boost security in the Shortland Islands and at the border.

Police from Taro, Choiseul Province have also been sent to the Shortlands to assist.

As this incident allegedly involves people crossing the border with Papua New Guinea into Solomon Islands with firearms, the police force is taking it seriously, Ms Nausi said.

She appealed to people in the Shortland Islands to assist the police force with its investigation.

Information can be passed anonymously to any police officer in the Shortland Islands investigating the incident, to officers at Gizo or through the police free toll line, 999.