26-year-old man arrested for stealing Police armoured vehicle in daylight incident

A 26-year-old man is in police custody following a dramatic daylight theft of a Ghana Police Service armoured vehicle at the Nkawie Market in the Ashanti Region.

The suspect, Ebenezer Frimpong, allegedly seized the opportunity after the driver left the engine running while stepping out briefly to buy medication.

According to a police situational report, the incident occurred around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The driver, Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi of the Formed Police Unit, was transporting the vehicle from Nkawie to the Ashanti Regional Police Workshop in Kumasi for servicing.

Police say the officer parked near the market and left the vehicle unattended when he entered a nearby pharmacy. Moments later, Frimpong allegedly entered the armoured vehicle and drove off at speed, shocking the officer and bystanders.

A swift alarm triggered an immediate regional response, with a SWAT team deployed to track and intercept the stolen vehicle.

The pursuit, which covered the Nkawie–Abuakwa stretch, ended about 30 minutes later at Mim, near Abuakwa in the Kumasi enclave, where the suspect was arrested. The operation was led by Inspector Benjamin Nartey and involved seven tactical officers.

Police have confirmed that the armoured vehicle has since been recovered and secured as an exhibit.

Frimpong is currently in custody at the Abuakwa District Police Command and has been transferred to the Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further interrogation.