Serial break-in suspect arrested as police nab 28 in Koforidua festive crackdown

Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The New Juaben-South Municipal Police Command in the Eastern Region has announced the successful arrest of a suspected serial shop break-in operator following intensified security operations rolled out during the 2025 festive season.

The arrest forms part of broader measures aimed at safeguarding lives and property as commercial activities peaked during the holidays.

At a press briefing held on December 30, 2025, at the police premises, the Municipal Police Commander, Superintendent Ransford Nsiah, disclosed that the command had strengthened patrols across the municipality using varied operational strategies, including the deployment of plain-clothes personnel to support routine patrol teams.

These measures, according to him, were designed to enhance surveillance, intelligence gathering and early detection of criminal activity.

As a result of the intensified operations, twenty-eight (28) youths were arrested from identified ghettos within the municipality for their alleged involvement in crimes such as gambling, the use and trafficking of narcotic drugs, and the sale of unauthorised pharmaceutical products.

All suspects were screened and profiled. Those found culpable have since been arraigned before court, while investigations continue into the remaining cases.

A major highlight of the briefing was the arrest of a 33-year-old suspect believed to be behind a series of shop break-ins within the municipality. The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Mutawakiru, hails from Hohoe and is known to operate across several towns, including Nkawkaw, Koforidua and Accra.

According to Police investigations, Mutawakiru employed a calculated modus operandi. "He would travel to a target town, study the environment for days, identify vulnerable shops, and gain access by breaking through specific portions of roofing sheets before entering through the ceiling," disclosed the Municipal Police Commander.

Investigators revealed that the suspect arrived in Koforidua on December 17, 2025, where he conducted surveillance for about eleven days.

He allegedly targeted ten shops along Legend Street at the Adwenpa Curtain area, including a rural bank and a forex bureau. His plan was to access the ceiling on Saturday night, carry out the break-ins on Sunday, December 28, and exit the premises in the early hours of Monday, December 29.

However, the operation was disrupted in the early hours of Monday when the suspect noticed Police officers on foot patrol around 3:00 AM, preventing his planned escape. At about 6:00 AM, one of the shop owners discovered his shop had been ransacked and promptly reported the incident to the Police.



Superintendent Ransford Nsiah furthered that officers who visited the crime scene suspected the culprit might still be hiding within the ceiling.

"A thorough search led to the arrest of Mutawakiru, who was found concealed above the reinforced concrete ceiling of a bank, which he had been unable to breach," he said.

During the arrest, police retrieved a sack containing several tools believed to have been used in the criminal acts. These included hacksaw blades, a hammer, metal punch, screwdrivers, crowbar, assorted keys, pliers, scissors, a grinding machine with grinding wheels, wooden hammer handles, a keypad mobile phone, and cash amounting to GH¢9,133.00.

All items have been retained as exhibits to support ongoing investigations.

ASP Asante Kusi Augustine, the Municipal Crime Officer, noted that the suspect exploited areas with intense commercial activity.

He revealed that the suspect attempted to break into ten shops, successfully accessing four, while the ceilings of the others were too heavily fortified to break in.

He urged shop owners to strengthen ceiling fortifications, remain vigilant about strangers monitoring their premises, and promptly report suspicious behaviour. He also encouraged business owners to extend CCTV coverage to the streets and regularly review footage.

Despite the arrests, the municipal police commander commended the Police for their professionalism, noting that the Municipality generally enjoys relative peace and low crime.

The suspect remains in Police custody and will be put before court. The Municipal Police Commander reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining security, particularly during festive periods when criminal activity tends to increase.

Meanwhile, the owner of the affected forex bureau confirmed experiencing a similar break-in last year involving the theft of foreign currency.