Man arrested for attempting to steal a police armoured vehicle

The Ghana Police Service in the Ashanti Region has arrested a young man, Ebenezer Frimpong, for allegedly attempting to steal a police armoured vehicle at Nkawie Market in a brazen daytime incident. 

The suspect is said to have taken advantage of a brief lapse in security after the police driver reportedly stepped out to purchase medication, leaving the engine of the vehicle running.

According to reports, Frimpong allegedly entered the armoured vehicle and drove off, prompting a swift response from a nearby police patrol team that pursued him.

A service driver, Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi of the Formed Police Unit (FPU), was said to be transporting the armoured vehicle with registration GP 1131 from Nkawie to the Regional Police Workshop in Kumasi for servicing.

Police say the officer, upon reaching a spot near the Nkawie Market, parked the vehicle to buy medication from a nearby pharmacy while the officer reportedly left the engine running in the process.

Suspect Frimpong, who was passing by, seized the opportunity as he jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off in that armoured vehicle, leaving bystanders and the officer in shock.

An alarm was immediately raised, sparking an immediate response from the Ashanti Regional Command as a SWAT patrol team, led by Inspector Benjamin Nartey and comprised of seven tactical officers, was dispatched to intercept the stolen vehicle.

The chase, which ended in 30 minutes at Mim, near Abuakwa, also saw the arrest of the 26-year-old Ebenezer Frimpong.

The armoured vehicle has since been retained as an exhibit, while Frimpong remains in detention at the Abuakwa District Police Command.

Meanwhile, Frimpong has been transferred to the Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations.