First indications show that the trend is continuing in 2010.

The Federal Police's Eddy De Raedt told VRT News: "It's not easy to confirm this rise just yet, but if you consider the armed attacks on jewellers this week, the trend does seem to be upward."

Mr De Raedt also says that the perpetrators are getting younger and younger: "Hard core criminals are getting more and more professional, but then there is also a growing group of youngsters who readily pick up a gun, when they intend to commit theft."

It's especially in the cities that armed raids are on the rise, Brussels being is a major black spot.

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