Some of the stolen cars
Officials of the Auto Theft Section (ATS) of Criminal Investigations Department (CID) have arrested 14 persons believed to be part of a gang that has been defrauding and stealing of victims’ vehicles through the internet and others.
The arrest of the suspects has also led to the retrieval of 25 vehicles, mostly saloon and 4×4 by the police.
The suspects, according to the police, are currently facing trial at the courts after provisionally being charged with fraud and theft.
Director in-charge of Operations, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters, Chief Superintendent Felix Mawusi, told the media that 40 cars had been stolen from January to June, this year.
Following the increase in criminal activities related to the sale and purchase of vehicles in the country, the police administration established the Auto Theft Section (ATS) at the headquarters in 2011.
He said the section continues to receive cases related to fraud, issuance of dud cheques, among others.
Chief Superintendent Felix Mawusi stated that this year, 71 victims had lodged complaints at the section.
“A total of 40 vehicles were involved and out of the number, police investigations led to the arrest of the 14 suspects and through them 25 of the vehicles have been retrieved.”
Modus operandi
Chief Superintendent Mawusi said some of the suspects also engage in multiple sales with the consent of the owners while others steal the cars during test drive.
Twelve persons were arrested for selling vehicles with owners’ consent but bolted with the proceeds.
Five of the stolen cars retrieved, according to the director, had already been registered by the new owners.
Chief Superintendent Mawusi said so far officials of tonaton.com, a website where goods are advertised, had assisted the police to apprehend suspects who use their medium to defraud victims.
He said managers of the site were worried about the increasing number of victims defrauded through their website and were assisting the police arrest those fraudsters.
Meanwhile, he said the police were also in talks with some of the savings and loans banks that accept vehicles as collaterals.
“Investigations revealed that some of the stolen vehicles are sent to the savings and loans and used as collateral to collect money.
“We are in talks with them to properly check the documentation of all vehicles brought to them as collaterals by some of their customers before granting the loans.
He therefore called on the public to desist from buying vehicles from third parties except the owners of the cars and not inspect a vehicle at a point and pay money to other persons.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey