The National Police Service (NPS) has intensified its crackdown on phone theft syndicates after officers recovered 132 suspected stolen mobile phones and arrested four suspects during an intelligence-led operation in Kayole, Nairobi.
According to the police, officers from Kayole Police Station conducted the operation in the Nyaura area following intelligence on a network involved in the illegal trade of stolen mobile devices.
Among those arrested was a man believed to be a key receiver and distributor of mobile phones stolen by street snatchers, while the three other suspects are linked to a series of phone-snatching incidents in the city.
A search conducted during the operation led to the recovery of 132 assorted mobile phones, several mobile phone motherboards and two laptops, all believed to have been used or connected to the criminal enterprise.
Police said the operation is part of an ongoing campaign targeting criminal networks that facilitate street robberies by providing markets for stolen electronic devices.
“The operation underscores the National Police Service’s unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal enterprises that thrive on stolen property and protecting members of the public from opportunistic crime,” the service said in a statement.
Investigations are ongoing as detectives seek to identify and arrest additional suspects believed to be part of the syndicate. Authorities are also working to establish the ownership of the recovered mobile phones and reunite them with their rightful owners where possible.
The National Police Service urged members of the public to continue supporting law enforcement efforts by reporting suspicious activities through the nearest police station or via emergency toll-free numbers 999 and 911.
Citizens can also share information through the #FichuaKwaDCI hotline on 0800 722 203 or anonymously via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000.
The latest operation comes amid increased efforts by security agencies to dismantle organized phone theft rings that have contributed to rising cases of street robberies and the illegal resale of stolen mobile devices in Nairobi and other urban centres.
