Mosiria sounds alarm on trick that uses fake thief chases to rob people
By Ascah Mwango, February 6, 2026Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, Geoffrey Mosiria, has issued a warning to Nairobi residents about a rising street theft trick being used by gangs to rob unsuspecting members of the public.
In a statement shared via his Instagram page on Thursday, February 5, 2026, Mosiria explained how the gangs operate by creating panic and confusion, making it easy for them to steal valuables without raising immediate suspicion.
“There’s a trick some gangs use to steal from unsuspecting people, and many people don’t even notice until it’s too late,” Mosiria said.
He explained that the criminals usually move in groups and suddenly start shouting that they are chasing a thief, while running towards a targeted person.
“Hawa hujipanga kwa group, then suddenly they start shouting ‘mwizi! mwizi! thief! thief!’ while running towards your direction. To the public, it looks like they are chasing a criminal, but in reality, wewe ndio target,” he stated.
According to Mosiria, once the group reaches the victim, they quickly surround them, shove them around and create chaos, making it difficult for the victim or bystanders to understand what is happening.
“They surround you very fast, create confusion, push you around kidogo, and within seconds wanakumalizia kila kitu phones, bags, wallets, equipment, everything is gone before anyone understands what just happened,” he said.
Mosiria revealed that a group of young creatives recently fell victim to the same trick. The youths had gone out for a content shoot when the gang struck and made away with all their studio equipment.
“Hawa vijana ndio recent victims of the same trick. They had gone for a content shoot, but the gang caused chaos and stole all their studio equipment. Imagine losing everything just like that,” he noted.
He described the incidents as sad and worrying, saying the criminals take advantage of confusion and the goodwill of members of the public who believe they are helping to catch a thief.
“It’s very sad and worrying because they take advantage of confusion and people’s good intentions,” Mosiria said.
The county official urged Nairobi residents to be cautious and prioritise their safety when they encounter such situations.
“So please, mkiona group inakuja mbio mbio wakipiga kelele ‘thief thief,’ don’t rush close. Stay away first. Protect yourself kwanza. Your safety comes before anything else,” he warned.
Mosiria added that in most cases, the commotion is carefully planned to trap and rob innocent people.
“Most of the time it’s just a setup to steal from innocent people,” he stated.
He called on the public to remain alert, especially in busy areas, and report any suspicious behaviour to the authorities to help curb such criminal activities.