Police arrest three suspects in phone-snatching ring

Rogue mechanics in Nairobi are colluding with criminals to steal mobile phones from unsuspecting passengers, an ongoing investigation by Lang’ata police has revealed.

The mechanics pose as matatu drivers and embark on picking up passengers on targeted routes at night and early morning when traffic police are not on the roads.

The investigation has shown that they use matatus handed to them for repairs and servicing to commit the robberies in the wee hours when passengers are desperate for quick transport home or to work.

According to Lang’ata Police Boss Benjamin Mwanthi, the gang operates in groups of three, with the mechanic posing as the driver and the other two as conductor and passenger.

“The one posing as the passenger occupies the seat next to the driver, his role is to distract the victim and steal while the conductor’s task is to call for passengers and lie about the destination,” said Mr Mwanthi.

On Wednesday night at 10pm, Mr Zachariah Oketch, who fumigates vehicles at the Wilson Airport, was walking towards the Nyayo stadium flyover when a matatu on Mombasa road stopped to pick him up.

“It was heading to Rongai and the fare was Sh50, so I hopped in and sat next to the passenger door in the driver’s cockpit. Before I could settle in, I was asked to forcefully close the door using both hands to avoid being falling out,” recalls Mr Oketch.

As he struggled with the door, his Itel phone valued at about Sh10,000 was taken from his trouser pocket and he was tricked to alight from the vehicle.

“They claimed that something had fallen out of the vehicle, and it looked like a phone. True to their words, my pockets were empty. I alighted to check whether my phone had fallen and that’s when the matatu sped off. I reported the matter to some officers who were on patrol on the same route and they informed me that they were on the lookout for the gang,” added Mr Oketch.