A security guard spoke today of the terrifying moment he was held at knifepoint and told to empty his pockets of cash.

Devaughan Seymour, 56, was working as a security guard at Rockaway Ferry terminal, and had just finished his shift when he was attacked.

He heard two men running behind him and at first thought they were running to get out of the rain - until they confronted him.

Mr. Seymour said: ?I heard these two people running behind me and I thought they were running to get out of the rain too.

?But one man grabbed me from behind and the second stood in front of me and told me to empty my pockets. I didn?t think it was for real. I said are you guys joking? You aren?t for real.

?But I could feel the knife digging into my back and knew they were for real.?

Mr. Seymour?s assault is the twelfth violent robbery reported by since the beginning of the year.

The incidents included a robber holding a knife to a Devonshire man?s neck before searching his bike and stealing his house key and a man grabbing money from the cash register at Happy Valley Mini Mart.

The recent robberies come after the release of crime figures, which reported 93 violent crimes in the last three months of 2006 up from 70 in the same quarter the previous year. It was the highest quarterly total recorded by Police.

Mr. Seymour, of St. George?s, works two jobs for the Guardwell Security Services Ltd., one at the Rockaway Ferry Terminal and the second at Works and Engineering?s quarry at Bailey?s Bay.

The incident involving Mr. Seymour happened on Monday at 7.50 p.m. he was running to catch the bus to his second job when he was stopped by a man who grabbed his right arm.

A second man came behind him and pressed a knife into Mr. Seymour?s back at which point he handed the first man his wallet.

The contents of his wallet went flying to the ground and the suspects picked up the cash before running away leaving Mr. Seymour?s credit and debit cards.

There are no lights on Sea Express Lane, which leads from Rockaway Ferry Terminal to Middle Road so Mr. Seymour was not able to see his attackers and now does not feel comfortable walking along the road when he finishes his shift.

He said: ?My boss has talked to authorities asking for lights to be put on the road, but they haven?t done anything.?

Mr. Seymour said: ?I was concerned about returning to work, but I spoke to my boss and he said I could catch the last ferry at 7.30 so I?m not worried anymore.?

He added: ?People need to teach their children not to be disrespectful. There is a general lack of respect for security guards.

?And I?d rather give up my money then get stabbed.?