Nairobi: 6 Arrested as Police Recover 77 Allegedly Stolen Phones Valued at KSh 3m
- A major crackdown in Nairobi’s CBD led to the recovery of 77 phones and cash suspected to be linked to a stolen phone network
- The arrested individuals are believed to be receivers, not snatchers, who run mobile phone repair shops that reconfigure and resell stolen devices
- Victims are encouraged to visit police headquarters to identify recovered phones, with authorities warning the public not to pay anyone during the process
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Nairobi: Police have recovered 77 mobile phones and KSh 614,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from the sale of stolen phones in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD).
Source: Twitter
How did police recover 77 stolen phones?
The operation, conducted along Munyu and Mfangano Streets, targeted networks believed to be fueling the city’s phone theft syndicates.
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Regional Commander George Sedah has confirmed the recovered items are estimated to be worth over KSh 3 million.
Speaking at the Nairobi Region Police Headquarters, Sedah explained that the money was seized from locations known for harbouring phone receivers.
These individuals allegedly purchase stolen phones, reconfigure them, and sell them to unsuspecting buyers.
“The suspects in custody are not the actual phone snatchers but those receiving and reselling the stolen phones, often through mobile repair shops. Some reconfigure the devices to resell them,” Sedah noted.
So far, six suspects have been arrested in the operation. Police say most of the phone thieves operate on motorcycles, snatching phones from pedestrians before fleeing into traffic.
Sedah emphasised that the crackdown is ongoing, with a focus on dismantling the broader theft networks and verifying the legality of mobile repair shops operating in the CBD.
Source: Twitter
He urged the victims of phone theft to visit the regional police headquarters to identify and reclaim their stolen phones. The commander also issued a warning to the public:
“The recovery process is free and managed solely by the police. Do not pay anyone to retrieve your phone.”
He further encouraged the public to report all phone theft cases promptly, noting that some stolen devices are trafficked across borders, complicating recovery efforts.
“Phones stolen in Kenya are often sold in neighbouring countries, and vice versa. This cross-border black market poses a major challenge to tracking stolen devices,” Sedah said.
15 suspected cattle thieves arrested in Kakamega
In other news, police in Mumias East sub-county arrested 15 men suspected to be members of a criminal gang known as 'Jeshi Jinga.'
The suspects were apprehended in Kamasha and Ekero villages, located in Butere and Mumias East sub-counties, while in possession of 15 cows and a goat believed to have been stolen.
Authorities launched the crackdown after residents raised concerns over a spike in livestock thefts. According to Mumias East Deputy County Commissioner Dorice Chemoss, three suspects were arrested and led officers to homes where 13 cows were recovered.
Another suspect escaped after officers recovered seven stolen cows in his village, prompting a manhunt for him.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
