Jirapa Police arrest members of stealing syndicate

Wa, Jan. 2, GNA- The Jirapa police on Monday arrested three persons believed to be part of a motorbike stealing syndicate in the Upper West Region. They are alleged to have stolen and exchanged motorbike registration numbers at Jirapa in the Jirapa/Lambussie District and Sawla in the Northern Region. ACP Robert Ayalingo, Upper West Regional Police Commander who revealed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Wa named the suspects as Francis Kabiri, 17, a farmer and Trader, Fidelis Kabiri, a 16 year-old primary six boy and 26 year-old Bashiru Salia who is a carpenter at Jirapa.

He said the suspects allegedly stole the motorbikes from Jirapa, Tumu and Tizza at different locations and times, but it was the arrest of Bashiru Salia that led to the arrest of the other suspects. ACP Ayalingo said Francis Kabiri, who early last year stole a goat and was bonded to be of good behaviour for one year could not honour his promise as he was again involved in the motorbike staling case. He said Desmond Zemmong, a staff of Souzelle Rural Bank in Jirapa reported the theft of his Leopard Motorbike with registration Number UW1869 Y.

He said later in the day they heard a motorbike was being sold with the same number plate at Sawla in the Northern Region The commander said on their arrival at Sawla, they found out that the number was affixed to a different motorbike, which Fidelis Kabiri was selling.

The arrest of Fidelis also led to the arrest of Francis Kabiri also with another motorbike believed to have been stolen from Tizza near Jirapa.

While trying to investigate how people come about with the fake number plates in the region, the Commander said the suspects would be put to court and warned the public against such criminal practices.