26-year-old man in police grips for allegedly stealing a police armoured vehicle

A 26-year-old man is in police custody following an alleged daring daylight attempt to steal an armoured vehicle belonging to the Ghana Police Service at Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The unusual incident has drawn attention due to the boldness of the attempted theft involving a high-security police asset.

The suspect, Ebenezer Frimpong, was apprehended in a Rambo-style hot chase by a combined SWAT team of seven police officers on the Abuakwa-Kumasi stretch. The swift response by tactical officers prevented what could have escalated into a major security breach involving an armoured police vehicle.

According to a police situational report sighted  the incident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The report provides a detailed account of how the suspect was able to briefly gain control of the vehicle before being tracked and intercepted.

A service driver, Lance Corporal Joshua Denkyi of the Formed Police Unit (FPU), was said to be transporting the armoured vehicle with registration GP 1131 from Nkawie to the Regional Police Workshop in Kumasi for servicing. The movement of the vehicle was part of routine maintenance operations within the service.

Police say the officer, upon reaching a spot near the Nkawie Market, parked the vehicle to buy medication from a nearby pharmacy while the officer reportedly left the engine running in the process. This brief lapse in security created an opportunity for the suspect.

Suspect Frimpong, who was passing by, seized the opportunity as he jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off in that armoured vehicle, leaving bystanders and the officer in shock. The unexpected nature of the act triggered immediate alarm across the area.

An alarm was immediately raised, sparking an immediate response from the Ashanti Regional Command as a SWAT patrol team, led by Inspector Benjamin Nartey and comprised of seven tactical officers, was dispatched to intercept the stolen vehicle. The coordinated pursuit demonstrated rapid police response capability.

The chase, which ended in 30 minutes at Mim, near Abuakwa, also saw the arrest of the 26-year-old Ebenezer Frimpong. Officers successfully recovered the armoured vehicle without further incident, preventing potential damage or misuse.

The armoured vehicle has since been retained as an exhibit, while Frimpong remains in detention at the Abuakwa District Police Command. Authorities say the vehicle is intact and secured as investigations continue.

Meanwhile, Frimpong has been transferred to the Ashanti Regional Criminal Investigations Department for further investigations. Police are expected to interrogate him further to determine motive and whether any accomplices were involved in the attempted theft.