Bao'an District residents can have free police escort service to protect them from potential muggers when they withdraw large sums of money from banks, the Southern Metropolitan News reported Monday.

According to the Bao'an District Public Security Sub-bureau, it began to place signs in the district's banks Monday to inform people of the new service. People needing the service can telephone the bureau.

Police say the service mainly targets enterprises and factories, who send accountants to banks on business involving huge sums of cash.

Individuals are also welcome to use the service if they need it. The bureau does not specify a minimum amount of money to qualify for the service, promising to meet demands as far as possible.

This measure is expected to effectively reduce robberies.

Police say people withdrawing or depositing large sums of money, particularly accountants, are easy prey for criminals. Companies usually do not like spending money to hire armed guards leaving the way open for criminals.

Gongming police station, the first to introduce the service four years ago, has helped 108 customers, with sums totaling more than 30 million yuan (US$3.6 million) with a decrease in the number of robberies within its jurisdiction.

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