A social media advertisement helped police uncover a suspected mobile phone theft syndicate in Nairobi’s Central Business District, leading to the recovery of 22 mobile phones and the arrest of two suspects.
According to a statement issued by the National Police Service (NPS), the operation was triggered after a woman whose mobile phone had been stolen at a school along Ngong Road spotted a handset in an online advertisement that closely resembled her missing device.
Suspecting it could be her phone, the woman reported the matter to the police, prompting officers to launch investigations.
Woman spots stolen phone in online advert, leading police to suspected theft ring. Photo: Courtesy.
Detectives then employed mobile phone tracking technology to trace the signal of the device.
The investigation led officers to a building near Khoja Stage in Nairobi’s Central Business District.
What initially appeared to be a straightforward case of a stolen phone soon evolved into a larger operation after police discovered several other mobile phones within the premises.
During the raid, officers recovered the complainant’s handset alongside numerous other high-value mobile phones believed to have been stolen from unsuspecting members of the public.
Police confirmed that a total of 22 mobile phones were recovered during the operation.
The devices are expected to undergo further examination as investigators work to establish their ownership and determine whether they are linked to other reported theft cases.
Two suspects found at the premises were arrested and taken into police custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
The National Police Service said the operation highlights the increasing role of technology in modern policing and the importance of public vigilance in combating crime.
Authorities noted that what began as a single report of a stolen phone ultimately resulted in the disruption of a suspected criminal enterprise and the recovery of dozens of devices.
The NPS reiterated its commitment to protecting members of the public and maintaining sustained operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks involved in theft and the trade of stolen property.
