Armed Robbery At Mobil

... Vulcanizer Behind Bars

A VULCANIZER at the Baatsona Mobil Filling station, Joseph Seshi Mey, who conspired with a friend to rob the station of ?39million has been arrested by the Police at Tema.

Investigations disclosed that on Saturday, December 29 2001, Mey invit4ed his friend, known only as Abu, to his house and the two planned to steal from the station.

They tried to procure a pistol for the operation without success, so Abu secured a butchers knife.

On Sunday, the two positioned themselves in the vulcanzing shop and waited to strike but clients were around.

Abu engaged the services of a taxi whose driver reported twice to carry them elsewhere but since the place was not safe, Abu asked the driver to wait a while.

The taxi driver failed to remove the ignition key as he went to a nearby kenkey seller to eat.

After serving the last client, the cashier, Frank Kwesi Adade at about 10:00hrs GMT headed towards the office but was immediately followed by Abu with a hidden butcher's knife.

He drew the knife and placed it at the throat of Mr. Adade whom he forced into an inner room, but luckily had no lock. Abut took the previous night's sales of ?39million, keylocked the main door and together with the vulcanizer they jumped into the parked taxi and sped off.

Adade managed to bring his head out to raise an alarm.

A driver who went to the shop to do brake alignment chased the taxi without success.

A few minutes later, the vulcanizer emerged but was suspected as an accomplice.

He initially denied but after police interrogation he confessed and led detectives to the home of Abut at Nungua, and because it was dark, Abu managed to escape.

His wife, nursing a one month old baby was apprehended and a search conducted in their room led to the discovery of ?12.370million.

Earlier, both Abu and Mey allegedly swore an oath of secrecy to share the booty equally and never to expose each other in case the other was caught.

Police at Tema Community 2 who are investigating the case say they will put the vulcanizer before court on January 8, 2002.