Police have arrested five suspects in separate operations targeting phone snatching and the handling of suspected stolen electronics in Nairobi and Thika, recovering dozens of mobile phones, tablets and laptops.
The arrests followed incidents reported in Muthaiga, Komarock and Thika Town, where officers pursued suspected phone snatchers and raided premises allegedly linked to an electronics-related racket.
In the first incident, a motorist using an iPhone 15 Pro Max while stuck in traffic near Muthaiga Mini Market Roundabout along Limuru Road had his phone snatched through his car window.
The suspect, identified as Kelvin Mwangi Gachuru, was pursued by the victim on foot, with police officers who were on patrol joining the chase.
The officers managed to arrest Gachuru and recover the phone before taking him to Gigiri Police Station for further processing.
In a separate incident along Komarock, police officers on foot patrol reportedly spotted three men riding a motorcycle, registration number KMGZ 673P, as they snatched a phone from a female passenger travelling in a matatu.
The officers immediately pursued the suspects, managing to arrest Kevin Musyoka and Deric Odhiambo, while their third accomplice escaped with the stolen device.
Investigations led police to a house in the Superloaf area of Mowlem, where the fleeing suspect was believed to be staying. The operation resulted in the arrest of Austine Mwangi, with officers recovering the stolen phone and four other mobile phones.
Meanwhile, detectives investigating a suspected stolen-electronics racket raided a room on the eighth floor of Aliza Plaza in Thika Town.
During the operation, officers arrested Elvis Thuita Gitau and recovered 57 assorted mobile phones, two tablets and two laptops.
The investigation reportedly targeted a suspected operation involving the alteration of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, which are used to identify mobile devices.
The recoveries represent a significant haul of electronic equipment as police pursue suspects linked to alleged phone theft and the handling of potentially stolen devices.
All five suspects were in police custody undergoing processing pending arraignment in court.
Police investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the separate incidents and determine whether the recovered electronic devices can be linked to reported theft cases.
The suspects' alleged involvement in the offences remains subject to the legal process, and they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
