Three men have been arrested following an armed robbery at Leon Hardware, East New Britain Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Amanda Kates confirmed.

The robbery occurred around midday on Saturday, October 3. A group of offenders, armed with homemade firearms, stormed the retail outlet and stole undisclosed property belonging to both the business and its staff. Chief Superintendent Kates stated that the suspects fled the scene in a minibus believed to have been stolen.

Following the incident, police investigators utilized CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts to rapidly identify suspects. In the early hours of Sunday morning, October 4, officers launched a targeted raid in Ulagunan, resulting in the successful apprehension of three adult men.

Property recovered in the suspects' possession has allegedly linked them directly to the crime scene. The three men are currently detained in the Kokopo police cells, where they are undergoing formal interviews by investigators from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Chief Superintendent Kates extended her gratitude to the local community, commending the individuals who provided police with timely intelligence. She emphasized that this public cooperation was vital to the swift operational response and subsequent arrests.

The investigation remains active, and police have not released further details regarding the specific nature of the stolen property or the identities of the suspects.