Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) David Eklu,
Madina District Police Commander, on Monday advised Ghanaians to unite to fight crime and improve the quality of life in their communities.
He said the idea of community or good neighbourliness should be translated into unity against crime.
Speaking at a meeting with residents of Ashalley Botwe and Sraha communities, CSP Eklu said most armed robbers were always on drugs before their operations and could therefore kill their victims at the least resistance.
Residents of the area organised the meeting to discuss efforts towards cooperation with the police in fighting crime, after they had come under siege by armed robbers in recent times.
It is the fourth community outreach programme the Madina District Police Command has organised to bring policing to the doorsteps of
communities in crime control.
The previous programmes were held at Agbogba and other environs for hotel and hostel operators to create security consciousness for the safety
of their clients.
CSP Eklu said: "We do not want to remain in the charge office until crime is committed before we act. The police would always be in the
community to take steps together with the residents to make it difficult for armed robbers to operate".
He said thieves would gain the upper hand when they realize the residents are divided and called on them to unite and be their neighbour's
keeper. "Residents in slum areas experience less armed robbery because they are more united than people in residential areas", he added.
CSP Eklu observed that most of the residents in residential areas could stay for several years without knowing their next door neighbour.
He advised them to interact among themselves, know the identity of each other in the community, ensure bushy areas were cleared and report people of suspicious character to the police.
CSP Eklu noted that sometimes comments made by people on their mobile phones gave intelligent information about themselves and exposed them to
criminals.
"Criminals do not just jump into any house to steal; they undertake intelligent network through househelps and visitors," he added.
CSP Eklu said people who attempted to overpower armed robbers when being attacked put themselves at the risk of losing their lives.
"Do not play the hero, do not resist when they demand money, lap top computers, mobile phones and other valuables, instead be calm, give the items out, observe, gather evidence and report to the police," he said.
"Life is more precious than the valuables the robbers may take away, sometimes temporarily," he added.
CSP Eklu assured the residents that though personnel of the Ghana Police Service were constrained by logistic problems, they would endeavour to live up to expectation and ensure crime was reduced in the area by engaging the residents to assist.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Ebenezer Boryor, Madina District Crime Officer, said the residents should mobilise the idle youth to form watchdog committees and motivate them with incentives to operate efficiently and effectively.
He advised the residents to be security conscious, keep their kitchen, garage and washroom doors firmly fortified.
Mr Michael Gaso, Assemblyman for the area, advised the residents to be security conscious and urged them to cooperate with the police to fight crime.
He asked them to be careful about househelps, shoe shine operators that visit their homes and mechanics who undertake repairs in their homes and rooms because they served as informants to criminals.