Police in Nairobi have shot and killed a suspected mobile phone thief following a botched robbery attempt in the Mirema area of Kasarani. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening along Mirema Road, involved two men riding a motorcycle who allegedly tried to snatch a pedestrian’s phone.
According to police reports, the victim a woman screamed for help, attracting the attention of officers who were on patrol nearby. The officers responded immediately and intercepted the suspects. During the confrontation, one suspect, who was riding the motorcycle, was fatally shot, while his accomplice managed to flee on foot.
A mobile phone believed to have been stolen moments earlier was recovered from the deceased suspect. The motorcycle used in the attempted robbery was impounded and towed to Kasarani Police Station for further examination. The body was later moved to the City Mortuary pending identification and a post-mortem examination.
Police have linked the incident to the growing problem of mobile phone snatching in Nairobi, a crime that has remained rampant despite continuous crackdowns. Many of the stolen devices are either resold to unsuspecting buyers, dismantled for parts, or smuggled to neighboring countries.
Detectives in Kasarani and other divisions have intensified operations targeting the criminal syndicates behind these thefts. Several suspects have been arrested and arraigned in court in recent months, police confirmed.
In related cases, police in Githurai 44 launched investigations after a woman collapsed and died by the roadside, while in Kilifi County, detectives are probing the discovery of a woman’s skeletal remains in Ngerenya.
Police have expressed concern over the rising number of violent crimes and homicides, vowing to maintain heightened patrols to curb insecurity across the country.
