Armed robbery gang leader in Mankessim-Saltpond area arrested

Saltpond (C/R), March 23, GNA - Thirty-seven year-old Joseph Hinson, alias Allan Cost, a notorious armed robber who had been terrorising people in the Saltpond-Mankessim area, has been arrested together with two members of his gang, sources close to the Saltpond police said on Tuesday.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Saltpond, the district Crime Officer, Police Inspector Patrick Yeboah, named the two others who were arrested with Hinson as Mallam Saliu, 28 and Richard Asante, 28. He said another member of the gang, known as Kobena Yaro, escaped when the police invaded their hideout at Mankessim.

Inspector Yeboah said Hinson had used children under the age of 11 years to carry out his nefarious activities.

For example, he said, on February 28, 2005, 'Allan Cost' and his gang, including two children aged 10 and nine years, broke into a textile shop belonging to one Mrs Diana Opare at Saltpond. During the attack, Allan Cost broke part of the ceiling of the shop and pushed the children through it to steal the targeted items, the Crime Officer said, adding that the boys stole 30 pieces of lace fabrics and other valuables, which they passed on to Allan Cost and his men who were waiting outside the shop.

Inspector Yeboah said the two boys were later arrested upon a tip-off and they mentioned Allan Cost as the brain behind the crime.