A 33-year-old suspected burglar has been arrested in Koforidua after he became trapped in the reinforced concrete ceiling of a rural bank while attempting to evade police patrols.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Mutawakilu, was arrested by the New Juaben South Municipal Police Command in the Eastern Region in the early hours of Monday after officers found him hiding in the ceiling of the bank along Legend Hall Street.
Police say Mutawakilu is believed to be behind a series of shop break ins within the municipality. Investigations indicate that he arrived in Koforidua on December 17, 2025, and spent eleven days quietly monitoring potential targets.
During this period, he identified 10 shops in the Adwenpa Curtain area, including a rural bank and a forex bureau, which he planned to break into during the weekend when business owners were away.
According to police, his usual method involved climbing buildings at night and removing sections of roofing sheets to gain access through the ceiling.
He reportedly planned the operation to last three days, entering the ceilings on Saturday night, December 27, breaking into the shops on Sunday, December 28, and leaving in the early hours of Monday, December 29, before shop owners returned.
However, the plan fell apart around 3:00 a.m. on Monday when Mutawakilu noticed police officers on routine foot patrol in the area. Unable to safely exit, he became stranded in the reinforced concrete ceiling of the rural bank.
Officers later discovered him still hiding in the ceiling later that morning and arrested him without incident.
Police say investigations are ongoing and the suspect is expected to be processed for court as efforts continue to assess the extent of damage and losses linked to the attempted break ins.
