THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has reported that the incidents of robbery under arms have increased by 23 percent.

The report said, up to August 2012, there were 670 such, as compared to 544 for the same period in 2011.
The statistics indicate an increase of 17 percent in the armed robberies involving the use of firearms and 35 percent where weapons other than guns were used by the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, a total of 92 murders were recorded at the end of August 2011, in comparison to 81 for the same time this year, representing a 12 percent decrease.
The documentation said, of the 81 murders, 38 were of the disorderly type, five committed during armed robberies, 16 domestic related and five execution style, with another 17, so far, not categorised.
The police said an overall decline in serious crimes, of two percent, was on record at the end of August this year, in comparison to last year. The total number by August 31 this year was 2,498, as compared to 2,542 for August month end last year.
Some of the criminal offences monitored are murder, robbery under arms and with violence, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape and kidnapping.
However, in relation to traffic, there has been 18 percent less road fatalities up to the end of August this year, as compared to the same period last year, with 65 in 2012 and 79 in 2011. This year also continues to see reductions in relation to the other categories of traffic accidents which resulted in serious and minor damages.
Pedestrians are the main road users affected, with 20 such having lost their lives by the end of August 2012. Fifteen pedal cyclists and 14 drivers of motor vehicles have also been killed in that time.
Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents, causing 44 of the 61 occasioned, by August month-end, too.
Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 44,712 cases being made against errant motorists during that time, 10,189 of them for speeding.
Up to Sunday, September 9 last, there were four fatal accidents resulting in five deaths for the month.