Wire traps laid to rob motorcyclists; gang nabbed by residents

By Buddhika Kumarasiri

Colombo, May 19 (Daily Mirror) - A gang that allegedly laid wire traps across roads and robbed motorcyclists of their cash and jewellery at Boraketiiya on the Padukka-Wataraka-Boraketiiya Road was caught by residents and handed over to the Meegoda Police in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Their modus operandi was to tie one end of a wire to a tree at a height of about three feet while keeping the other end lying across the road. When a motorcycle approached, the suspects would raise the wire, causing the rider to become entangled and topple from the vehicle. The robbers would then rush to the scene and rob the victim of cash and jewellery.

Residents said a young motorcyclist had sustained serious neck injuries when he entangled with the wire and had narrowly escaped death.

They alleged that although the police had been informed about the continuing spate of robberies earlier, no action had been taken. Subsequently, residents themselves kept watch in the area, apprehended the suspects and handed them over to the police.
The Meegoda Police are conducting further investigations.