Seven children aged 12 to 17 who claimed to have been fortified by a Mallam to steal without being noticed are to be put before a juvenile court at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region today on charges of unlawful entry and stealing.
The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service at Obuasi confirmed the arrest of the children yesterday for allegedly embarking on a series of stealing expeditions.
The Second-in-Command at the Obuasi DOVVSU, Chief Inspector Juliana Forson, told the Daily Graphic that the children were picked following a tip-off.
Items retrieved from them included quantities of cooking oil, tubers of yam, toothbrushes, toothpaste, chewing gum, matches, assorted soap and tiGo, Vodafone and MTN starter packs.
Chief inspector Forson said for some time now a number of shop owners had complained to the Assembly member for Akaporiso Electoral Area, Mr Kwadwo Adjei, about unidentified persons breaking into their shops in the night to steal.
Some market women also made similar complaints, compelling Mr Adjei to seek the support of the community members to apprehend the suspects.
Last Sunday evening, Mr Adjei had information that some children had carried some goods to a room at Akaporiso under suspicious circumstances.
He and other residents followed up the lead and saw three of the children in the room with the items.
They were arrested and handed over to the police.
According to the DOVVSU official, the children confessed to stealing, along with others, on a number of occasions.
A follow-up to the confessions made by the three suspects led to the arrest of the other four on Monday morning.
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