The suspects abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot within Ruiru's Destiny area.
Police officers from Gatong’ora police station on Saturday foiled a daring burglary attempt at a shop in Ruiru’s Destiny area, Kiambu county, amid a seasonal surge in crime as families travel upcountry for Christmas and New Year festivities.
In the pre-dawn quiet of December 27, patrolling officers spotted five suspects forcing entry into the premises.
“On spotting the police, the suspects tried to escape in a standby vehicle,” the station confirmed in an official statement.
A tense chase ensued through suburban roads, with officers firing at the rear tyres to immobilise the saloon car, which screeched to a halt.
The suspects abandoned it and fled on foot, slipping into the neighbourhood.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a toolkit primed for break-ins: false number plates fitted to the car, extra counterfeit plates, a toy pistol, two crowbars, six master keys, three rolls of suspected cannabis, and assorted items hinting at wider illicit plans.
“The vehicle has been impounded and is currently in police custody as efforts to trace and arrest the five suspects continue,” the statement added.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a criminal toolkit primed for break-ins
Kiambu has recorded tens of crime cases in recent periods, ranking high in regional reports just behind Nairobi.
This incident spotlights a familiar December pattern, when families secure urban homes and head to rural villages for end-of-year rituals.
Opportunistic thieves target empty residences and unattended shops, fuelled by economic pressures and reduced vigilance in some areas.
Data points to elevated burglary rates in the county, exceeding national averages, with hotspots in nearby Thika and Githurai mirroring trends seen in coastal regions too.
Police assured the public that they remain on high alert to prevent any such incidents as 2025 wears to an end.
“The National Police Service has intensified efforts to curb the rise in crime often witnessed during the festive season, stepping up patrols in crime-prone areas, residential neighbourhoods, and business districts,” the statement declared.
Measures encompass regular foot and mobile patrols, vehicle checks at roadblocks, and intelligence-driven sweeps in vulnerable zones have become commonplace.
Recent operations have tackled drugs and illicit brews in places such as along river banks in informal settlements, bolstering overall festive security.
With the holiday peak underway, these sustained efforts aim to deliver safer conditions as revellers prepare to return home.
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