Nairobi News

Police have arrested a suspect believed to be behind an organised crime syndicate that has been troubling residents amid runaway insecurity in the capital city and recovered 354 mobile phones from a vehicle in Umoja.

Crime busters traced a mobile phone signal from a gadget that had been reported stolen earlier.

“On 25/11/2023 at around 0210hrs, NPS Officers from Kayole Police Station recovered 354 mobile phones from a Toyota Premio in Umoja and arrested one suspect who is currently held at Kayole Police Station awaiting arraignment,” police said.

The gadgets were seized to be used as exhibits.

The latest arrest comes just a day after two suspected thieves were Friday afternoon lynched by the public at Pangani shopping center in Nairobi after snatching a mobile phone from a pesserby near Petro filling station.

Their attempts to flee after committing the crime were, however, thwarted by the residents who with the help of bodaboda riders at the center cornered them.

They were beaten up before being set on fire together with their motorbike.

Police who responded to an alarm by one of the residents found the lifeless bodies that were burnt beyond recognition at the scene.

“The public joined hands with police officers and helped put out the fire,” reads a police report.

Last month, police in Kisii arrested 14 people suspected of being part of a gang that has been stealing digital equipment in the region.

The group was accused of targeting mobile phones, laptops and tablets belonging to the public in the region.

A total of 352 assorted mobile phones, 20 laptops, 13 tablets and 21 hard drives were recovered.

Police also recovered tools suspected of being used to flush stolen phones and laptops.