Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested five suspects from a gang that stole Ksh900,000 and another $15,000 from a businessman based in Nairobi’s South C area two weeks ago.
According to DCI, the suspects were arrested in a stealth operation launched to end the era of city thugs dreaded stealing from locked motor vehicles.
The first incident was reported by a distressed victim who lost his money in a parked car. He reported the incident at Akila police station.
“The distressed victim who reported at Akila Police Station in Lang’ata indicated that he had just parked his BMW X1 along Muhoho Road opposite Rubis Petrol Station and entered an auto parts shop when the felons struck, “DCI stated.
“He had gone back to his car less than five minutes later, only to find a smashed rear window and a missing bag that contained the money,” DCI report read in part.
In addition, the complainant lost his KCB, DTB and Gulf African Bank ATM cards, his national ID card, smart driving license and assorted job-related documents.
Also Read: Intelligence Report Exposes Top Hideouts for Notorious Gangs in Nairobi
“Later that evening, the victim received a message alert indicating that Ksh40,000 had been withdrawn from his KCB account and another Ksh40,000 from the DTB account at an ATM in Embakasi,” DCI statement read in part.
DCI launches investigations on the gang
After the reports, the Nairobi region Crime Research team initiated a forensic-led trail on the suspects.
Backed up by the Operations Unit, the crime busters nabbed the 1st suspect who was captured by a nearby CCTV breaking into the motor vehicle.
The footage also captured two other men who acted as watchdogs during the operation.
Detectives noted that one of the suspects employed his childhood skills in hunting with a catapult to smash the car window.
DCI indicated that at the same time, another female suspect was busy stalking the victim.
“One after another, the suspects were rounded up last night before the spy vehicle was traced to Tsavo Gardens. In it were found the victim’s KCB ATM card and car breaking tools including a catapult,” DCI stated.
According to DCI, the five suspects were escorted to DCI Lang’ata offices where they are booked for the long weekend.
Additionally, the authority stated that efforts are in place to recover a second motor vehicle. They are also in search of the sixth accomplice who fled to Mombasa.
Moreover, the detectives believe that the syndicate is linked to another four suspects who were arrested on February 16, 2023, after a series of car breakings using the same tools.
To report any crime, call DCI on 0800722203
Notorious gang hiding places exposed
The arrest came barely a week after intelligence reports revealed the hiding places of criminal gangs in Nairobi.
Also Read: Nairobi Police Boss Arrests Gang Targeting Motorists Stuck in Traffic
In a statement on March 22, 2024, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki stated that intelligence reports had exposed that some of the criminal gangs terrorizing residents in Nairobi’s Eastlands areas had their hideouts in the suburbs of Tala Township.
“Some of the criminal gangs terrorizing the Nairobi Eastlands, according to credible intelligence are using suburbs of Tala Township to plan their crimes and to debrief,” Kindiki stated.
