Police arrest two suspected car snatchers in Accra
Two persons suspected to be masterminds of a car-snatching syndicate have been arrested after they allegedly stabbed two taxi drivers and snatched their cars from them.
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The suspects, identified as Courage Klutse, 23, and Bright Amuzu, 28, usually hired the services of taxi drivers, in the course of which they hijacked the cars.
One of their accomplices, who is yet to be identified, is currently at large.
Incident
Briefing journalists in Accra yesterday, the Adenta Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Antwi Gyawu, said at 4 a.m. on March 28, 2017, the three suspects hired the services of the driver of a Kia Picanto cab, with registration number GW 9167-16, from Circle to Frafraha in Accra.
On reaching the Baron Distilleries area, near Frafraha, the suspects attacked the driver, stabbed him at the back, pushed him out of the vehicle and drove off.
With the help of some Good Samaritans, the victim was rescued and taken to the 37 Military Hospital and a report made to the police.
Investigations
During investigations, he said it came out that the suspects had handed over the car to a man, identified as Julius Bello.
Bello is said to have also taken the car to Ho in the Volta Region and parked it in a house belonging to one Eric Tey.
However, with the assistance of a vehicle tracking device, the police were able to track the car to a house in Ho where it was impounded.
Tey was subsequently arrested and brought to the Adenta Police Station.
While investigations were ongoing, Bello is said to have contacted the police through an intermediary on phone and claimed that Tey was innocent of the crime and promised to assist in apprehending the real suspects.
Further attack
Mr Gyawu said on March 31, 2017, Bello, with the consent of the police, contacted Klutse, Amuzu and their accomplice and informed them that a friend at Ashiaman wanted a taxi to buy and, therefore, he needed their assistance.
The three suspects then promised to get a taxi for the said friend. They allegedly hired the services of another Kia Picanto from Spintex to Oyarifa about 1 a.m. on April 1, 2017.
On reaching a place known as Ankonam, the suspects allegedly attacked and stabbed the driver's left palm and pushed him out of the car.
Subsequently, the three suspects called Bello on phone and told him they had a taxi for sale.
Bello laid ambush with some friends near a drinking spot at Ashiaman Mahaheko and called the three suspects to go there with the car.
When the suspects got to the place, Klutse and Amuzu were arrested but their accomplice escaped, while the vehicle was impounded.
Mr Gyawu said the police would conduct an identification parade for victims of car-snatching incidents in the area to possibly identify the suspects.