Accra Oct. 10, GNA - Snatching of mobile phones and bags from commuters at night has become rampant in Tesano with the act linked to the activities of drug peddlers in the area forcing the residents to go to bed early. Residents of Tesano have, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Police Service to intensify patrols at "Karldof" a popular drinking spot at Tesano in order to control crime in the area.

The residents made the appeal at the meeting with the Tesano District Police on the need to form a watchdog committee in the area. "Almost everyday these peddlers snatch somebody's bag or cell phone at knifepoint, not to talk about riots that erupt at Karldorf spot daily, " they declared. Addressing them Superintendent of Police Nana Afful Tesano, District Police Commander, urged members of the Association to approach the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to provide them with lights and ensure proper naming of streets in the area.

Supt Nana Afful recalled the small number of Police personnel in the country saying although Parliament had approved on the recruitment of 2,000 Police personnel, it was constrained with accommodation. He appealed to resident to assist the Police with accommodation to facilitate their operations. He lamented over delay of cases at the courts and appealed to the Judiciary to speed up process at the courts.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nyamekye Adane-Ameyaw, the District Commander of La Police, told them to list all uncompleted building and structure in the area to the Police. ASP Adan-Ameyaw was of the view that most robbers used these structures as haven. He said one of the biggest challenges facing the Police was lack of streets naming and false alarms. Mr Nyamekye noted that whiles some streets did not have names, others also called the Police to assist in trivial issue adding: "A fight between a husband and wife is now branded as robbery". He said if the public continued to give false alarm it could lead to slow response by the Police but "this should not be so."

Mr Nyamekye cautioned resident against keeping of keys under doormats, tables and chairs because the robbers knew all those tricks and thus break into homes with ease. He appealed to residents, who have guns, to re-register and renew their licences and keep them out of children's reach. On the formation of the Watchdog Committee, he appealed to residents to involve the Police when recruiting members. "This is the only way you can ascertain the background of members." Mr George Quaye, organizer, Tesano Residents Association, noted that the area was recording three to five robbery cases every week but while that seemed to be reducing snatching of cell phones and bags were on the increase forcing residents to go to bed at 20:00 hours.