Armoured Vehicle Theft Attempt Sparks Swift Police Chase in Ashanti Region

A routine vehicle transfer in the Ashanti Region quickly escalated into a high-risk police operation after a 26-year-old man allegedly made off with a Ghana Police Service armoured vehicle in broad daylight.

The incident unfolded on Wednesday morning at Nkawie, where a service driver with the Formed Police Unit had briefly stepped away from the vehicle during a scheduled trip to Kumasi for maintenance. In that short window, the suspect is believed to have entered the unattended vehicle and driven off, triggering immediate alarm.

What followed was a rapid and coordinated response from the Ashanti Regional Police Command. A tactical SWAT team, led by Inspector Benjamin Nartey, was sent in within minutes to track and intercept the stolen vehicle.

Eyewitnesses along the Abuakwa-Kumasi stretch reported a tense scene as the armoured vehicle sped through the road, targeted closely by police officers determined to bring the situation under control.

After an intense tracking operation lasting approximately 30 minutes, the operation came to an end at Mim, near Abuakwa, where officers successfully intercepted the vehicle and arrested the suspect without further incident.

Police have since identified the suspect as 26-year-old Ebenezer Frimpong. He is currently in custody and assisting with investigations being handled by the Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigations Department.

The recovered armoured vehicle has been secured as evidence.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive behind the act, but the incident has raised concerns about operational safety procedures and the risks associated with leaving service vehicles unattended, even briefly.