Ghanaians were on Wednesday advised to seek professional advice from the Ghana Police Service (GPS ) on household security matters when constructing fence walls, electric wiring and burglar proof to prevent robbery.

Commissioner of Police Prosper Kwame Ablorh, Director General of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the GPS who gave the advice at a press conference in Accra, cautioned the public against what he described as defects in physical security lapses in households.

The lapses include leaving car keys on tables in living rooms, inappropriate design of burglar proofs and carelessly leaving gates and doors of houses unlocked.

Speaking at the press conference where three car-theft suspects were paraded, Mr. Ablorh said the police would like to advice the general public to ensure that all windows and entry points were properly secured before leaving their houses or retiring to bed.

He said the car-stealing syndicate suspects, 30-year-old Kwabena Effah, alias Anyemi, and Alexander Kusi, aged 30 both taxi drivers; and Yaw Boamah, alias Papa Yaw, a 20-year-old petty trader, were arrested at Tabuom, in the Mampong District of Ashanti Region on July 14 after their alleged stealing of a VW Touareg vehicle from South Odorkor in Accra on July 5.

Mr. Ablorh said their modus operadi included targeting houses that had often-unlocked sliding windows which they pushed sticks through to pick keys of vehicles belonging to their victims.

On the July 5 incident, he said the suspects had earlier picked the victim’s car key and laptop computer and few days later went to the house, scaled the wall and drove the vehicle to Kumasi for sale.

Mr. Ablorh said after the arrest of the suspects, a search conducted in the recovered vehicle and on them revealed they had in their possession the original registration number plates of the vehicle in the trunk (car boot) and another car key.

He said the ringleader Effah said the newly-found key was to a Chevrolet Aveo vehicle they (the three suspects) had earlier on stolen with the intention of selling it on July 15.

Mr. Ablorh pleaded with the public to be primarily concerned about the security of themselves and their property.

Conceding that car stealing incidence had increased in the metropolis, he however observed that establishment of the Auto Theft Unit within the CID Headquarters in Accra had helped in clamping down activities of the perpetrators.**