More than 2,000 of the city's roughly 3,000 24-hour convenience stores have already installed the system, with the rest expected to get the alarms in the near future, according to the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

Last June, the bureau ordered all 24-hour convenience stores to install alarm systems, but didn't set a deadline for store owners.

Alarm buttons are hidden near store cash registers and can set off a signal in the bureau.

Local cops promise a patrolman will arrive at a store within three to five minutes if an alarm is activated.

Police say that given the city's low crime rate, though numbers were not disclosed, the alarms are rarely used, and when used it is often for problems other than robbery.

"In the very few cases that have arisen, the criminals were immediately caught by police," said Zhu Qing, a bureau official.

The alarm buttons have made convenience stores a good place to stop for those needing police help, however.

Last month, a street mugger stole a handbag of a woman surnamed Zhu. She went to the nearest con-venience store and asked the staff to press the button. A patrolman nabbed the thief soon afterward.

Salespeople are happy with the new system, saying it makes their stores a much safer place.

"Sometimes drunks harass employees during the night. I don't know how to deal with them. Now I can call the police right away," said Li Meiping, a saleswoman with Alldays Convenience Store Co. Ltd.

Store owners, however, say the new system is too costly considering the low profit margin due to massive the competition. "The installment and usage fees are a burden for our outlets as we have about 450 stores," said Ni Qingdi, an Alldays official.

Prior to August, stores had to pay 2,000 to 3,000 yuan (US$241 to US$361) to install the alarms and a monthly user fee of about 100 yuan per store.

Following complaints from store owners, the security bureau talked suppliers into cutting the installment fee to a little more than 1,000 yuan and cut the user fee to 50 yuan a month, although some owners say the price is still too high.

"Business is slow these days, we hope the bureau will cut the fees further," said Wang Xikang, an offi-cial of Shanghai Kedi Convenience Store Co. Ltd. with 600-plus stores.

The last couple of years have seen several new operators, including 21st Century and C-Store.

But only Lianhua, Kuik and Kedi are making profit among the more than 10 convenience store firms in the city, according to the Shanghai Convenience Store Association.

(eastday.com November 7, 2002)