Kumasi, Sept 21, GNA 96 Two people alleged to be part of a car snatching syndicate have been arrested by the police in Kumasi. The two, who are in prison custody, are Nana Kwame Poku, 38, and Kwadwo Owusu alias T.K., aged 27.

They appeared before a court in Kumasi on August 29 charged with robbery and were remanded to re-appear on October 03. Briefing reporters on the case in Kumasi on Wednesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Adu-Poku, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said another accomplice, Osei Wayo also known as Agya Osei, was on the run.

He said the syndicate snatched Opel Astra Caravan from drivers and after that changed the painting and registration numbers and sold them. ACP Adu-Poku alleged that Osei Wayo has been the marketing agent for the syndicate and that previous efforts to arrest him did not yield results.

He said the syndicate had snatched five cars from unsuspecting drivers in various parts of the region within two months. The Regional Police Commander noted that car snatching was on the increase in the region, saying it had been a headache to the police administration. He said the police had retrieved five stolen Opel Astra caravans so far.

On its modus operandi, ACP Adu-Poku said members of the syndicate were hiring the vehicle to obscure places where their accomplices would be hiding and on arrival, they would forcibly take the key from the driver and take the car away. "They hired a car from Abuakwa and seized it at the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council area, one from Ejisu which they snatched at Volta River Authority and another from Konongo which they also took over from the driver at the Ridge Officer's Mess area," he said.

He said following reports that a car had been snatched from its driver, the police mounted a check and when they got to Abuakwa, they saw that some people including sprayers were very busy on an Open Astra, so they were arrested. He said investigations led to the arrest of Kwame Poku who later mentioned Kwadwo Owusu as an accomplice.