Thieves targeting football fans

Accra, Ghana - Police have arrested several men after thieves targeted football fans in and around the stadiums at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana. The thieves have used the shoving and pushing that occurs at the stadium gates to pick pockets and snatch cellphones from people wanting to enter or leave the stadium.

A British journalist at the Group B game between Nigeria and the Ivory Coast in Sekondi on Monday had his wallet stolen with his credit cards and cash in it, as well as his mobile phone, while an Italian journalist had his mobile phone stolen in Accra on Sunday.

South African journalist Thahir Asmal was luckier as he had his phone returned after it was stolen. "I was leaving the stadium after the Ghana Guinea game and suddenly felt somebody taking my phone out of my pocket.

"I grabbed the guy who had it and he immediately dropped it and managed to run away."

A police spokesman in Sekondi confirmed that they had arrested several people accused of pick-pocketing and ticket racketeering.