Sekondi, May 20, GNA - The Western Regional Police Command said increasing cases of armed robberies in the region was a source of worry to the command, Mr Kofi Duku-Arthur, the Western Regional Police Commander, told journalists on Friday.

He said the service has launched an intensive campaign, surveillance and patrols to halt the menace in the region. Eighteen armed robbery cases were recorded in 2003 while the figure increased to 31 in 2004. Mr Duku-Arthur said between January and March, nine cases have been reported. On May 19, armed robbers attacked Mr Godfrey E. Bentsil in his house and wounded his caretaker, Ben Arko.

The robbers collected 2million cedis and two mobile phones and fled. He said the Police arrested one Emeka Oyejekeh, a 28-year-old Nigerian, and when searched the phone and 1.3 million cedis was found on him. Mr Duku-Arthur said on March 21, six men attacked the driver of a taxi near the old Accra station and collected 950,000 cedis from him and fled.

On April 27, three armed men used cement blocks to break into a house at Pare-squire near Sekondi, stole a phone and rapped the victim. Mr Duku-Arthur advised the public to call the police on their emergency number 191, 46068,46888 or the patrol vehicle number 0244-824667 for prompt assistance.

He expressed regret that while the service was doing everything possible to ensure the safety of the citizenry, certain individuals have been using the emergency lines in raising false alarms.