Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are pursuing thugs linked to a series of car break-ins and thefts in Nairobi.
In the latest incident, the criminals were captured on surveillance cameras breaking into a car in Nairobi West, where they stole cash and valuables worth thousands belonging to a city resident at noon on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
A CCTV footage shared on social media by the DCI on Monday shows the gang using a white car allegedly using fake number plates to cover their tracks parking next to the victim’s car shortly after he left to buy some items at a local supermarket.
A few minutes later, two men emerge from the vehicle. One tries to force the door of the victim’s car open as another keeps watch while appearing to talk to someone on the phone.
They manage to access the car and steal some items before driving off while the owner is still in the supermarket.
CAR BREAKERS ON THE PROWL
— DCI KENYA (@DCI_Kenya) October 16, 2023
DCI Detectives based at Langata are investigating a case of stealing from a locked motor vehicle where a member of the public lost cash and valuables worth hundreds of thousands to car breakers in Nairobi West.
The victim fell in the hands the… pic.twitter.com/Cq0KUsbF2T
According to the DCI, the miscreants made away with all the cash the owner of the car had just withdrawn from the bank, a school bag, a laptop and a mobile phone that was inside the vehicle.
“DCI Detectives based at Langata are investigating a case of stealing from a locked motor vehicle where a member of the public lost cash and valuables worth hundreds of thousands to car breakers in Nairobi West,” DCI said.
“The victim fell into the hands of the notorious gang that has been terrorizing Nairobi residents after he left the cash that he had withdrawn from the bank, a school bag, a laptop and his mobile phone inside his motor vehicle and went to a supermarket only to return and find all of them missing.”
The gang, linked to a similar incident in Parklands where a motorist lost Ksh1.5 million he had just withdrawn from DTB Bank, is believed to target bank customers.
“As the clientele goes about their businesses in the banking halls, a member of the ring who also poses as a customer monitors and identifies targets, usually those withdrawing cash in bulk, before signalling his accomplices who keep stealing glances from the parking area,” DCI said.
“Using a hired vehicle that bears false registration numbers, they trail their targets to a choice spot before striking in whichever way as long as they get to steal the money. In some cases, victims suffer grievous harm.”
DCI urges members of the public to volunteer information that may lead to arrest of the suspects.
“Should you have any information that might help us arrest the culprits, kindly #FichuaKwaDCI by calling our toll-free line 0800 722 203.”