Police have arrested Hassan Maina Murigi, a suspected receiver of stolen goods, following a major break-in at Patnet Steel Makers godown.
In a statement shared by the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday, August 24, 2024, the arrest comes after days of intense investigations led by detectives from the DCI Nairobi Regional Headquarters, in collaboration with their counterparts from Ruai.
“Following days and nights of painstaking investigations, CRIB detectives based at Nairobi Regional Headquarters augmented by their Ruai counterparts have registered another major breakthrough following the arrest of Hassan Maina Murigi, whose investigations have revealed to be a notorious receiver of stolen hardware goods,” the statement read in part.
Godown break-in, major bust
Murigi’s arrest follows the earlier apprehension of John Nderitu Mugo in Kangemi, Dagoretti. Mugo was reportedly hired by Derrick Namukowa to transport a group of loaders using his matatu, Reg. No. KCB 716F, to a location in Ruai. From there, the loaders were transferred to a waiting Isuzu lorry, Reg. No. KCQ 028D, driven by James Wachira Kinyua.
The group executed their plan in the early hours of Thursday, July 27, 2024, by breaking into the Patnet Steel Makers godowns, according to DCI. They managed to steal a large quantity of assorted goods, but not before fatally wounding one of the employees on duty.
DCI added that after loading the stolen goods into the lorry, the thieves drove to Kariobangi Light Industries, where they offloaded the items at the premises of Hassan Maina Murigi. Once the goods were delivered, the group dispersed, having been paid for their criminal activities.
The law enforcement officers said Murigi began selling the stolen items, but his operation was cut short when detectives apprehended him. During the arrest, the police recovered iron sheets and barbed wire with batch numbers that matched those stolen from the Patnet Steel Makers godowns.
“With the goods well tucked into their lorry, the hoodlums proceeded to Kariobangi Light Industries and offloaded the said goods to the premises of Hassan Maina Murigi where they scattered to different directions after they were paid for their criminal activities. From there on, Murigi started selling the stolen goods but not before detectives pounced on him and recovered iron sheets and barbed wires whose batch numbers matched the lot that was stolen at Patnet Steel Makers’ godowns,” DCI stated.
Adding;
“The suspects will be arraigned as detectives continue their relentless war on such economic saboteurs,” the DCI affirmed.
