People who wave imitation guns around are putting themselves at risk of being shot by armed police, a spokesman warned yesterday.He said: “The Bermuda Police Service is concerned about a number of incidents where imitation firearms and air pistols have been brandished. In other cases, it is clear that by their words and actions, some persons have sought to put people in fear that they are carrying a firearm.“Aside from the criminal offences that might be associated with these actions, the Bermuda Police Service is very concerned that any person behaving in this manner is putting themselves and others at risk, particularly when challenged by armed police.“Our highly trained firearms officers are prepared for a range of critical situations but they cannot be expected to distinguish between a real and an imitation firearm during an incident.”He declined to comment when asked how many incidents there have been lately involving imitation guns and firearms, saying: “That is our statement at this time. It is meant to make individuals who are, or who maybe considering doing similar illegal activities realise the potential consequences of their actions”.There have been several high-profile cases involving the alleged use of imitation guns in recent months.A teenage girl and four young men are currently awaiting Supreme Court trial over allegations that they used a pretend gun during a home invasion in Devonshire in April. A man in his 20s is also awaiting trial on allegations that he broke into a different Devonshire home last December armed with a fake firearm.And in January, Jaron Roberts, from St George’s, was locked up for 16 years for his role in a string of night-time robberies on Bermuda’s roads in which the victims were threatened with an imitation firearm.