Couple Arrested For Stealing (PHOTO)

A couple, whom the police accuse of making pick-pocketing their source of livelihood, are now in the firm grip of the law enforcers. Paul Akuoko, 25, and his wife, Elizabeth Boatemaa, 30, are suspected to belong to a stealing syndicate comprising two other persons � Kwabena Nketia, 30 and Joseph Twumasi, alias Nana Kwame, 25. Chief Superintendent Deborah Addison Campbell, the Commander at the Manhyia Divisional Police in Kumasi, told a section of the media that the suspects operated at Buokrom Junction and the Airport Roundabout, suburbs of Kumasi. She said the gang normally operated an Opel Astra taxi cab with registration number GR 781 X, which would be driven by Nketia with Twumasi in the front seat while the couple sat at the back. Pretending to be operating a taxi business, Chief Superintendent Campbell said the suspects would then pick another passenger and on their way allegedly engaged the prey in a curious conversation. Once the person was engrossed in the conversation, the couple would cash in and rob him or her. Subsequently, she said, they would push the victim out of the taxi and speed off. The Police Commander said though the trick had worked for them many times, on Monday, September 29, at about 0830 hours, their luck ran out, after robbing a victim of GH�1,900.00. Commander Campbell said unknown to the thieves, the driver of another commercial vehicle witnessed the robbery and assisted the complainant by giving the cab a hot chase and managed to cause their arrest. They were consequently handed over to the Asawase police and a search on them uncovered GH�1,600.00 of the amount, she said. Investigations, however, continue, Chief Superintendent Campbell said, but the suspects would soon be put before court.