Two suspects believed to be part of a phone-snatching ring have been arrested in Nairobi after police recovered five mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from members of the public.
The suspects were arrested by officers from Shauri Moyo police station during routine patrols along Digo Road, in an operation aimed at curbing phone theft and other crimes against unsuspecting pedestrians in the area.
According to the National Police Service (NPS), the suspects are believed to have been involved in a series of phone-snatching incidents around Gikomba and Digo Road.
Police said the arrests followed sustained patrols aimed at disrupting criminal activities and protecting members of the public from opportunistic criminals operating within the busy areas.
“Routine patrols continue to yield significant results in the fight against crime with police officers maintaining sustained operations to protect members of the public from opportunistic criminals,” the NPS said.
During a search of the suspects, officers recovered five assorted mobile phones believed to have been stolen during separate incidents.
The recovered phones have since become part of the investigation as detectives work to establish their owners and determine whether the suspects could be linked to other reported cases of phone theft in the area.
So far, three victims have positively identified their mobile phones.
The arrests come amid continued efforts to tackle phone theft and other street crimes in parts of Nairobi where large numbers of people converge daily.
Gikomba and surrounding areas are among the city's busiest commercial zones, with pedestrians and traders moving through the streets throughout the day, providing opportunities for criminals to target unsuspecting members of the public.
The NPS said it would continue conducting patrols and intelligence-led operations to disrupt criminal activity and apprehend suspects.
“The National Police Service remains steadfast in its efforts to combat crime through sustained patrols, intelligence-led operations, and swift responses to criminal activity,” the service said.
The authorities urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities or criminal incidents to law enforcement authorities.
“Reports of criminal or suspicious activities should be made at the nearest police station or through the toll-free numbers,” the service said.
The latest arrests comes days after four people were apprehended in two separate operations in Nairobi as part of an intensified crackdown on mobile phone snatching and the illicit trade in suspected stolen electronic gadgets.
In a statement, the National Police Service (NPS) said officers from Muthangari Police Station acted on intelligence and arrested two suspects in Kawangware after receiving information on their whereabouts.
The recovered handsets were secured as exhibits, while the suspects were placed in custody pending arraignment.
