In an apparent challenge to attempts by the police to destroy their trade, thieves have decided to carry their activities to the doorsteps of the police.

And so, on 16 April, this year, in what could well be described as a daring adventure, thieves broke into the Officers Mess of the Police Academy and Training School at the Police Depot in Accra and made away with a lot of booty, including a 20-inch colour TV set.

A double decker fridge, which was also carried away by the thieves was later abandoned when they were given a hot chase by the police. No arrest has so far been made, but the police say they are investigating the robbery.

Though police officials are tight-lipped on the issue, information gathered by The Evening News indicates that at about 11.45 pm on that day, the thieves took advantage of a downpour and power outage and broke into the mess from the back door, while a police recruit was at post at the front door.

According to our sources, when the police recruit heard of a noise in the mess, he shouted to find out what the noise was about. In a typical dare-devil stand, one of the thieves replied that he was the caretaker of the mess. That aroused the recruit’s suspicion, but out of fear and uncertainty, he could not enter to find out the real identity of the “operator” of the mess at that odd hour.

Rather, he rushed to the charge office to lodge a complaint from where a delegation was dispatched to the caretaker’s house to find out whether he was in the house or had gone to the mess. Lo and behold, the caretaker of the mess whose name was given as Frank was found asleep. It then dawned on the officers that they had been outwitted by thieves and decided to chase them.

Sensing danger, the thieves fled and in the process, abandoned the double-decker fridge on the way. The Commanding Officer of the Police Academy and Training School, Mr Kwabena Gyamera-Yeboah, when contacted confirmed the story but declined to comment further, saying the case was being investigated