New trend of armed robbery identified

Police say they have identified a new trend of armed robberies around the Legon Staff Village and Little Legon. They said these new robberies are less well organised but are potentially dangerous.

Superintendent Bright Oduro, Regional Crime Officer, told the Ghana News Agency that three of such robberies had been recorded in the past two weeks at Little Legon and the Legon Staff Village.

He said police had observed that these armed gangs were not well organised and were believed to be people residing close to these target areas making their arrest easy provided the requisite information was made available. "We are hereby requesting the public, especially residents in these areas, to volunteer information to enable the police move to stop these thugs." He said the thugs, who carry locally manufactured pistols; cutlasses and clubs committed these robberies only in residential homes.

The Regional Crime Chief said this situation was slightly different from the usual tailing of people from banks, airport and on the roads for cash and car jacking. Mr. Oduro said the modus operandi of these thugs included their direct request for money from their victims and the stealing of televisions sets and video decks.

He said that all information on suspicious characters would be treated as confidential. This information should be sent to the Greater Accra Regional Commander, the Regional Crime Officer or the Nima Divisional Commander for a handsome reward.