How police traced, arrested suspected members of car theft syndicate
Police in Nairobi are holding a former National Youth Service officer who hired a car to attend a wedding in Kisumu before going into hiding with the vehicle.
Erickson Kimwei Nyakundi was arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at his hideout in Nyali, Mombasa County on Friday September 23 after the matter was reported at Ruaraka Police Station by the complainant Mary Wanjohi of British Army Training Unit in Kenya.
He is in custody at Muthaiga Police Station with detectives from Starehe DCI offices are carrying out investigations.
Detective Sergeant Fredrick Obiero in an affidavit filed at the Makadara Law Courts said Nyakundi and an accomplice, who has also been charged at the same court, contacted Ms Wanjohi’s agent Keziah Muthoni of Wildpath Safaris Limited on July 12, 2022 with the intention of hiring the car.
They viewed the car at Muthoni’s residence in Nairobi West the same day and agreed to hire the car at Sh11,000 per day for five days. The suspects, having paid the fee, availed copies of their national IDs and driving licences. Nyakundi was thereafter issued with the car.
But on July 17, the two failed to return the car as agreed and switched off their phones as Ms Muthoni tried to contact them in vain. Ms Muthoni, who was leasing the car on behalf of Ms Wanjohi, informed her of the development whereby she made a report of a stolen motor vehicle at Ruaraka Police Station.
Mr Obiero said Nyakundi was traced to Mombasa owing following information provided by his accomplice who has been charged. He said Nyakundi is believed to be a hardcore criminal with previous criminal cases in court is to lead the investigators to the recovery of the stolen motor vehicle.
The detective added that Nyakundi is wanted by the DCI in Kitale on a similar case of stealing a motor vehicle reported vide OB37/17/03/2022 where a Toyota V8 valued at Sh15 million was stolen.
Mr Obiero said Nyakundi is suspected to be a member of a syndicate involved in theft of cars in Kenya and the neighbouring countries. He recommended that the accused be interrogated by a multi-agency team of investigators including Interpol sleuths to unearth the motor vehicle theft syndicate.
Senior Principal Magistrate Mary Njagi granted an order for the accused to be detained until October 7.