Two suspects picked up over Tarkwa bullion van heist
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the Tarkwa bullion van robbery in the Western Region.
The suspects, identified as Charles Enning and Dorcas Akosua Amankwah, are assisting in the investigation.
A statement from the police said preliminary investigations indicate that Charles Enning, a driver, and Dorcas Akosua Amankwah, a teller, “went to Ransbet Supermarket for proceeds made over the weekend to be deposited at the bank but failed to pick the Police Officer detailed to provide security for them”.
“In the process of putting the money into the bullion van, the suspects were attacked by a masked armed man who fired at the front tyre and windscreen of the vehicle and bolted with the money on a waiting motorbike,” the police added in a statement.
The police in a passionate appeal asked the public to provide information that could lead to the arrest of the robbers.
Background
On Monday, October 18, at about 9:00am, two armed robbers allegedly made away with over GH₵ 100,000 in yet another bullion van attack in Tarkwa in the Western Region.
While shooting, the robbers are said to have trailed the bullion van, which arrived at the Ransbet Super Shopping market to collect weekend sales to the bank.
One of the robbers reportedly disguised himself as a shopper with a gun on him.
CCTV footage at the shop showed after the cashier on the Mon-Trans bullion van took the money from the supermarket and was about to put it in the bullion van, the robber — who was inside the supermarket charged on him.
The robber is said to have snatched the money and walked away to sit on the motorbike, which had the other robber in charge, and sped off.
There were no fatalities reported as the armed men robbed at ease.
The Western Regional Police Command confirmed the incident to state-owned Graphic, adding that investigations were ongoing.
Manager of the Supermarket Mabel Dzedu noted that the van arrived at the supermarket premises without a police escort.
“The robber first entered the cosmetic shop and walked around for a while and then picked a drink and other items, paid for the items at the counter and waited for the items to be bagged,” she narrated.
Madam Dzedu also revealed that they had a contract with Mon-Trans to carry money from the shop to the bank daily.
“When the bankers arrived, the team went through the process of counting the sales, and after the transaction was completed, they carried the money towards the waiting bullion van only for the unfortunate to happen,” she said.