Man arrested for attempting to steal police armoured vehicle

Police in the Ashanti Region have arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly attempting to make away with a Ghana Police Service armoured vehicle in Nkawie.

The suspect, Ebenezer Frimpong, was picked up after a swift security operation following the incident, which occurred in broad daylight at the Nkawie Market.

According to a police situational report, the vehicle was being conveyed to Kumasi for servicing by Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi of the Formed Police Unit when the incident happened at about 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

The officer reportedly made a brief stop near the market and stepped into a nearby pharmacy to buy medication, leaving the engine of the armoured vehicle running.

Within that short window, the suspect allegedly entered the vehicle and drove off, shocking onlookers and prompting an immediate alert.

Security agencies quickly activated a response, dispatching a SWAT team to track the vehicle.

The suspect’s escape was short-lived. After a pursuit along the Nkawie–Abuakwa stretch, the vehicle was intercepted at Mim, near Abuakwa, roughly 30 minutes after it had been taken.

The operation, led by Inspector Benjamin Nartey and supported by seven tactical officers, resulted in the arrest of the suspect without further incident.

Police say the armoured vehicle has since been recovered and secured, while the suspect remains in custody to assist with investigations.

Frimpong was initially held at the Abuakwa District Police Command but has now been transferred to the Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further questioning.

Investigations are ongoing as police work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the attempted theft.