DCI hunting down car break-in gangs targeting bank customers in Nairobi

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) based at Langata is actively probing a series of alarming car break-ins, with victims losing cash and valuable possessions worth hundreds of thousands of Kenyan shillings to a notorious gang operating within Nairobi and its environs.

These criminals have become the source of anguish for bank customers and motorists in the area.

One victim, who preferred to remain anonymous, fell prey to this nefarious gang after a visit to the bank.

He had withdrawn a substantial sum of money and subsequently left it, along with a school bag, a laptop, and a mobile phone, inside his motor vehicle.

He stepped into a local supermarket briefly, only to return to a shocking discovery — all his belongings had vanished.

Preliminary investigations have unveiled a modus operandi employed by the gang.

They utilize a vehicle with false registration plates, carefully chosen to obscure their identities and evade detection.

Despite these efforts to cover their tracks, DCI detectives are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to apprehend the culprits responsible for this string of crimes.

Meanwhile, another criminal gang appears to target individuals who withdraw significant amounts of cash from banks.

While unsuspecting customers conduct their transactions within banking halls, a member of the gang, posing as a regular client, closely observes potential targets.

Once a target is identified, this individual discreetly signals their accomplices, who maintain surveillance from the parking area.

The gang's objective is clear: to seize the opportunity to steal money in any way possible, often resorting to violence, causing serious harm to their victims.

In an incident on October 7, this gang, captured partially on CCTV footage, focused their attention on a client exiting the DTB Bank, located within Diamond Plaza, Parklands.

Unaware of the gang's presence and their covert operations, the unsuspecting victim deposited a significant sum of Sh1.5 million in his Mazda CX5 vehicle, which was safely locked in the parking lot.

He briefly left the vehicle to shop for a moment, only to return and find his wealth had disappeared.

The gang, operating from a Nissan Note bearing counterfeit registration numbers, had swiftly broken into the victim's vehicle and fled with the substantial cash.

The incident was promptly reported to DCI Parklands, and an ongoing investigation is actively underway.

The DCI has issued a public appeal for assistance in their efforts to bring these criminals to justice.

Should anyone possess information that can aid in the apprehension of the culprits, they are encouraged to share the same with the DCI through their toll-free hotline.

The brazen activities of these car breakers have sent shockwaves through Nairobi, and law enforcement agencies are working diligently to ensure the safety and security of the city's residents and visitors.

As the investigation unfolds, it is hoped that those responsible for these criminal acts will be swiftly brought to justice, restoring a sense of safety and peace to the community.