Nkawkaw, Aug. 29, GNA - The Nkawkaw Police, led by Lance Corporal Adjei Boakye, has arrested three suspected armed robbers who are also involved in a car and mobile phone snatching syndicate operating in Accra.

Also arrested is Alhaji Abass alias Kofi Owusu, 32, a native of Fumesua, near Kumasi, who allegedly purchases stolen vehicles and other items.

The suspected robbers were identified as Kwesi Owusu Yeboah, a 35-year-old welder from Akyem Manso in the Eastern Region, Felix Kojo Akurugu alias Yaro, 22, a common carrier from Bolgatanga and Daniel Karikari alias Paa Dan, 21 and a native of Kokofu Aborso, near Bekwae in the Ashanti Region.

Briefing the press at Nkawkaw on Tuesday, the Nkawkaw Divisional Crime Officer, ASP William Daah, said around mid-night on Monday, the three suspects, armed with a knife and screw drivers, stopped an Opel Astra taxi cab with registration number GW 8910 X, at La in Accra. He said Paa Dan sat in the front seat and forcibly took away the ignition key of the vehicle from the driver, while the other two assisted him to pull out the driver and they drove the vehicle away. ASP Daah said the taxi driver informed an FM radio station, which announced the incident while the armed robbers drove the vehicle towards Kumasi to dispose of it.

The Crime Officer said at a section of the road, the taxi over took a cargo truck whose driver had heard the announcement of the stolen cab and informed Lance Corporal Boakye on telephone to mount a road block to arrest the taxi and its occupants.

He said Lance Corporal Boakye informed two other colleagues and they mounted a road block at Nkawkaw where the three armed robbers were arrested and admitted stealing the taxi cab in Accra and were sending it to Alhaji Abaas in Kumasi who purchases such vehicles. ASP Daah said one of the armed robbers accompanied the police to Kumasi in the taxi where he called Alhaji Abass on the mobile telephone to come for the vehicle, while the police laid ambush and a few minutes later Alhaji Abass arrived.

He said however, when Alhaji Abass, realized that his caller was handcuffed in the vehicle he took to his heels but he was chased and arrested by the police. The suspected armed robbers admitted being members of a gang of 15 armed robbers operating in Accra who have already sent two vehicles to Alhaji Abass.

The Crime Officer said the four suspects would be sent to Accra for further investigations and prosecution.