Phone Snatchers Arrested …At TV3 Music, Music Show

The Ashanti Regional Police Command, on Sunday, arrested three suspected mobile phone snatchers from their hideout at Bantama in Kumasi, at about 10:00 a.m.

They are Yahaya Haruna, 30, and his two accomplices, Samuel Appiah, 23, and Stephen Oppong, 18.

The three were picked up in a kiosk, upon intelligence reports regarding their criminal activities, and are subsequently being held by the Regional CID to assist in investigations.

ASP Muhammed Usif Tanko, Regional Public Relations Officer, said an immediate search conducted at their premises revealed 30 assorted used mobile phones, two cameras and its accessories, as well as phone chargers, all suspected to be stolen items.

According to him, preliminary investigations so far indicate that the suspects are experts in mobile phone snatching, and they took advantage of the TV3’s “Music, Music” live entertainment programme, organised on July 6, 2013 at Obuasi, and hired the services of a taxi driver to the place, where they allegedly snatched a number of mobile phones from unsuspecting fans who attended that programme.

The Police PRO indicated that investigations also have it that Yahaya Haruna, a notorious mobile phone snatcher, recruits young men to snatch mobile phones from their victims, and later bring it to him for sale.

ASP Tanko said all the three suspects had admitted to the offence in their caution statement, for which they would be arraigned before court in due course.

Meanwhile, the Regional CID is appealing to the general public, especially those who attended the entertainment programme at Obuasi, and who happened to fall victim to the activities of the suspects, to come to the Regional CID to assist in investigations, to enable it have concrete evidence to ensure a speedy trial.

Source: The Chronicle