The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based at Langata is actively probing a series of alarming car break-ins, with victims losing cash and valuable possessions worth hundreds of thousands of Kenyan shillings to a notorious gang operating within Nairobi and its environs.
These criminals have become the source of anguish for bank customers and motorists in the area.
One victim, who preferred to remain anonymous, fell prey to this nefarious gang after a visit to the bank.
He had withdrawn a substantial sum of money and subsequently left it, along with a school bag, a laptop, and a mobile phone, inside his motor vehicle.
“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into the hands of the notorious gang that has been terrorizing Nairobi residents after he left the cash that he had withdrawn from the bank, a school bag, a laptop and his mobile phone inside his motor vehicle and went to a supermarket only to return and find all of them missing.”
He stepped into a local supermarket briefly, only to return to a shocking discovery — all his belongings had vanished.
Preliminary investigations have unveiled a modus operandi employed by the gang.
They utilize a vehicle with false registration plates, carefully chosen to obscure their identities and evade detection.
The gang, linked to a similar incident in Parklands where a motorist lost Ksh1.5 million he had just withdrawn from DTB Bank, is believed to target bank customers.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.”
