A 26-year-old man, Ebenezer Frimpong, stole an armoured vehicle belonging to the Ghana Police Service after a driver left the engine running while stepping into a pharmacy at the Nkawie Market in the Ashanti Region.
The incident occurred today when the police driver briefly exited the armoured vehicle and entered the pharmacy, leaving the keys in the ignition. Ebenezer Frimpong seized the opportunity and drove off in the vehicle, triggering a dramatic chase by a SWAT team through parts of the region.
“The driver left the engine running to step into a pharmacy at Nkawie Market and the suspect took advantage and drove off in the vehicle,” a senior officer at the Ashanti Regional Police Command said.
The SWAT team pursued the suspect immediately after the alarm was raised. He was apprehended about 30 minutes later at Mim near Abuakwa, and the armoured vehicle was recovered intact. “Our tactical team pursued the suspect immediately and he was arrested at Mim near Abuakwa. The vehicle has been recovered with no damage,” the officer said.
The suspect is in custody at the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters and faces charges related to the theft of state property. Police have commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The theft has sparked public outrage and raised serious questions about police operational security and the handling of specialised vehicles during active deployment. “It is worrying that someone could just enter and drive away a police armoured vehicle in a crowded market. There must be stricter protocols,” a trader at Nkawie Market said.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command said it is reviewing operational procedures for officers assigned to armoured vehicles. “The Command takes this breach very seriously. We are reviewing our procedures to ensure this does not happen again and to reinforce discipline among personnel,” the Command stated.
No injuries were recorded during the chase or arrest.
