Ten mobile phone dealers arrested in a swoop

Koforidua, Sept 30, GNA - The Koforidua police have arrested 10 members of a suspected mobile phone stealing syndicate in a swoop at the central business area of municipality on Tuesday following public complaints about the upsurge of mobile phone thefts.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Metropolitan Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Mr A.M. Sumaila, who led the exercise, said over 30 mobile phone thefts have been reported in the municipality for which investigations were on-going.

He said preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate use teenagers to steal and the booty are sold to unauthorized dealers at cheap prices.

The statement said following the District Security Council's (DISEC) discussions with the Ghana Telecom and other cell-phone operators, the dealers were advised to regularize their operations by registering with the Municipal Assembly and the Internal Revenue Service.

The statement advised the public to be extra careful in handling their mobile phones, especially in the taxis, shops, homes and offices to deny the thieves access to them.