Let us adopt personal security habits - Police Commander

Accra, Jan. 26, GNA - Superintendent of Police Deborah Addison-Campbell, Adabraka District Police Commander, on Friday advised the public to adopt personal security habits especially during the 50th anniversary celebration of Ghana's independence and the final funeral rites of the Ga Mantse Boni Nii Amugi. She said people should avoid carrying large sums of money from the banks and forex bureaux, complete all transactions in banking halls; avoid displaying valuable properties in public or leaving valuables in vehicles unattended to. Others are to avoid walking in the dark and obscure places especially when in possession of valuables. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Superintendent Addison-Campbell advised that when necessary people should walk in pairs in dark or obscure places and be extra vigilant with bags, mobile phones and valuables during the celebrations when many visitors and tourists were expected in the Accra Metropolis. The public should also be wary of people riding unregistered and defaced motorbikes. She said when robbers identified their victims, especially foreigners and people who emerged from the banks, forex bureaux or displayed valuable properties such as expensive mobile phones, they slowed down and snatched bags and sped away. Superintendent Addison-Campbell said some of the robbers engaged their victims in conversation and when they became relaxed snatched bags and valuables in their possession. She noted that areas where the robbers, especially mobile phone snatching gangs operated were the traffic lights near the Holy Spirit Cathedral and Ridge Hospital, Asylum Down, Odawna and Vienna City area, near Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Superintendent Addison-Campbell said the Police had taken some preventive measures including intensifying patrols in the black spot areas. "While the Police intensify patrols some of the crime prevention activities could be done by the public," she said. She appealed to the public to cooperate and work in partnership with the Police because the era when the Police could not be trusted was over. Members of the public should report offenders or suspects to the Police because without information it would be difficult for the Police to work efficiently and effectively. Superintendent Addison-Campbell said street robberies were re-emerging in the Metropolis with three people, including a Chinese, being robbed this week. She said the first involving the Chinese occurred at the traffic light near the Ridge Hospital when after changing money at a forex bureau some people on a motorbike snatched his bag containing the money and documents. The second occurred near the Okyehene's Residence at Adabraka when the complainants alleged that they stopped near a street ramp for a passenger to alight. Suddenly another vehicle parked near them with two people on board. She said one of them was masked and the other holding a pistol ordered them to lie on the ground. The woman obliged but the man refused and a struggle ensued during which the robbers took away his mobile phone, a laptop computer, valuable documents and some money from the vehicle. Superintendent Addison-Campbell said available records indicated that six street robberies were recorded within the Adabraka District in 2005 and three in 2006. "But with two incidents within a week the situation is alarming especially with the advent of the Ga Mantse's funeral and the 50th anniversary celebrations," she said.