Vandalism of light poles along the freeway is becoming a very serious problem in the National Capital District.

Some concerned city residents are calling on the perpetrators to refrain from damaging light poles for extraction of copper wires because light poles provide safety to the traveling public especially during the night.

The Governor for National Capital District, Powes Parkop, when speaking to Inside PNG, expressed his disappointment stating that this type of behavior is very unacceptable and irresponsible.

He further added that lighting up the freeways and streets of Port Moresby is a very expensive exercise because the value of one twin arm light pole costs more than fifteen thousand Kina (K15,000).

“These kind of people have no regard for public security or public safety. These lights are very essential for safety and security in the city and they also assist motorists, and those who are behind it should hang their heads in shame.”

Governor Parkop further added the people who are buying scrap metal from these perpetrators should also be ashamed of themselves and put a stop to it because they are the ones engineering this particular criminal activity.

Kingsley Domofi, a community leader in Morata Surburb also shared the same sentiments, saying many people have become victims of street muggings and petty crimes in the darkness because there are no street lights to brighten up their surroundings.

“I want to warn those copper wire thieves who are carrying out this illegal activity to put a stop to whatever that they are doing,” he says.

All the Street Lights and light poles along the freeways come under the management of The National Capital District Commission (NCDC).