Police arrest notorious car thief in sting operation in Kiamumbi
Police in Kiamumbi have arrested a suspected car vandal in the early hours of Thursday.
Officers identified the suspect as Francis Ndichu Kimani, 24, who was captured in several CCTV video clips committing the crime.
He had managed to evade the police dragnet for months until he was arrested on the morning of June 6.
“After giving the residents of Kiamumbi sleepless nights by sneaking through fences and vandalising their parked vehicles under the cover of darkness, the notorious suspect was arrested,” police said in a statement.
Police said they were forced to conduct a sting operation along Santiago Street, which has been largely untouched by vandals.
Residents here have been forced to leave their vehicles for long periods of time where they believe they are safe, or hire guards to keep an eye on the vehicles while they sleep.
The suspect was seen crawling up a perimeter wall and before the officers who had already spotted him could act, he was seen jumping back while carrying the front grill and headlights of a Toyota Harrier.
Police said the front grill and headlights had been expertly removed in a matter of minutes.
He is currently being held at Kiamumbi police station and will be charged in court on Friday.
Nairobi News has established that in his statements to police during interrogation, he revealed personal details of other suspects.
Police are currently hunting for more suspects and believe they will nab unscrupulous mechanics who have been buying from the suspect.
“After extensive questioning, important clues have been obtained about accomplices and the market for the stolen parts. Further investigations are ongoing,” the police said in the statement.