Macao's number of recorded crime cases in 2006 stood at 10,854, up 3 percent from the previous year, local media reported Thursday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted Cheong Kuoc Va, Secretary for Security, as saying that Macao's security situation remains stable, as the number of violent crimes in 2006 witnessed a 5.1-percent drop over 2005.

The number of robberies stood at 342 in 2006, a 9.5 percent decrease over the previous year, the secretary was cited by the newspaper.

The region has a population of 500,800.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2007)