The Odorkor District Police Command has retrieved seven more cars stolen by a seven-member gang believed to be behind the robbery of unregistered vehicles sent for repairs at some fitting shops within Odorkor and its environs by their owners.
This adds to 15, the number of vehicles recovered from the suspects after eight were retrieved earlier from them upon arrest.
The suspects are Eric Akoto, 31, Rockson Gyebedeh, 26, both welders, Kofi Adofo, 48, spare parts dealer, and Ofosu Yeboah, 41-year-old car dealer.
The rest are Bismarck Agyemang, 45, a car dealer, Ekow Bonney and Nicholas Yeboah.
The seven vehicles were recovered in Kasoa, Agona Swedru and Cape Coast, all in the Central Region.
The Odorkor District Police Commander, Superintendent Abraham Acquaye, said the police were expecting additional 10 of the vehicles the suspects confessed to have stolen.
Meanwhile, only four out of the 15 retrieved vehicles have been identified by their owners.
Modus operandi of suspects
Superintendent Abraham Acquaye, the Odorkor District Police Commander, told DAILY GUIDE that the mode of operation of the suspects was that they delegate Rockson and Eric to pretend seeking employment or apprenticeship at the targeted fitting shops where unregistered vehicle are normally sent for repairs.
In the night, when all the other workers close and leave for the house, the suspects would then steal the keys to the cars and bolt with them.
They then supply the stolen vehicles to the five others who are all car dealers to re-spray and sell them to buyers, after which they share the proceeds.
The suspects who claimed to have been doing the business for the past four years said lots of the vehicles have been sold to buyers within Ghana.
The arrest
Superintendent Acquaye said after the police received several complaints of car theft within their jurisdiction, they became alert and hinted informants to be on the lookout.
On March 29, 2014, police had information that Rockson and Ofosu were offering a Toyota Camry with value GH�35,000 for sale at Abossey Okai at a very lower cost.
Police suspected the vehicle to be a stolen one and proceeded to Abossey Okai to apprehend the suspects together with the said Toyota Camry.
When the suspects were later interrogated, they confessed to the robbery and mentioned the five others as their accomplices.
The two confessed that five of the vehicles retrieved were supplied to Ofosu Yeboah alone to sell, Kofi Adofo sold two of the vehicles and Ekow Bonney sold one vehicle.
Rockson and Eric then led the police to Ofankor to retrieve Pontiac Vibe sold to a buyer.
Ekow Bonney upon his arrest also led police to Bubuashie where the Toyota Corolla was also retrieved.
The rest of the suspects were apprehended at Pobiman, Kasoa, and New Weija with the help of the two.
In their caution statements, Ofosu Yeboah, Kofi Adofo, Bismark Agyeman, and Ekow Bonney admitted having received stolen items from Rockson and Eric Akoto.
They then led police to Obuasi, Agona Swedru, Prestea, and Cape Coast to retrieve five of the vehicles they had sold.
The police commander said efforts were being made to retrieve the remaining cars the suspects had already sold.
Ekow Bonney and Ofosu Yeboah have since been granted court bail to report later.
Superintendent Acquaye urged individuals whose vehicles have been stolen to contact the Odorkor Police with their documents for identification.
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