Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 13 October 2005

Source: GNA

Robbers target phone shops - Police

Accra, Oct. 13, GNA - The Police Service has notified the public that mobile phones shops have now become the latest targets of armed robbery in Accra.

The Service has therefore, asked Mobile Phone shop owners to ensure adequate security at their premises to avoid attacks. Chief Superintendent of Police, Mr. Bright Oduro, Regional Crime Officer, gave the advice when three persons were apprehended after robbing the Labadi branch of City Phones shop on Wednesday at about 1130 hours.

They are Emmanuel Aryeh, 30, Kennedy Owusu, 30 and Rufia Salifu 19. Chief Supt. Oduro said the incident brought the number of shops robbed recently to six.

The Crime Officer said during 2003 and 2004, the robbery trends were mainly mobile phone, bag and car snatching all known as Street robbery, highway robbery, work place and residential robbery.

"But these days, the robbers are also targeting residential areas in remote places such as Sowutuom, Anyaa and Frafraha." He noted that situations were under control as the police was striving to apprehend suspects involved in reported cases.

Chief Supt. Oduro said the Police was apprehending suspects and attributed that to information offered by the public. He warned that the Police would continue to hunt for the robbers.