sophisticated highway syndicate suspected of targeting bank customers along the Thika Superhighway and Eastern Bypass is under intense police scrutiny following a daring daylight robbery at a petrol station in Kahawa Sukari.
Detectives, working alongside the Ruiru Sub-County Police Commander Charles Kibathi, have launched a major manhunt for the suspected gang, which is believed to have been operating along major roads and targeting motorists after they leave financial institutions.
Investigators suspect that the gang could be trailing potential victims from areas as far as Nairobi’s Industrial Area and the Eastern Bypass before following them to their destinations in Ruiru and Kasarani, where similar break-ins are believed to have occurred.The latest incident involved 55-year-old Moses Njeru Kithaka, who was allegedly targeted shortly after withdrawing cash from a bank in the Kamakis area along the Eastern Bypass.
According to police, Kithaka withdrew Ksh.100,000 from the bank before driving to the Kahawa Sukari Shell Petrol Station. He then parked his vehicle at the station and left to do some shopping.Kithaka had securely locked his vehicle before leaving, apparently unaware that he was being followed.
Approximately 30 minutes later, he returned to the parking area and discovered that the right rear window of his vehicle had been shattered.Upon checking the vehicle, Kithaka realized that the cash he had left inside had been stolen. The money, amounting to more than Ksh.100,000, had reportedly been placed inside a khaki envelope and left in the vehicle.
The incident has raised concerns over the increasingly sophisticated methods allegedly being used by criminals targeting motorists who have just withdrawn money from banks.Police believe the suspects may have carefully monitored Kithaka’s movements before striking at the petrol station.CCTV footage obtained from the petrol station has provided investigators with crucial information on how the robbery was executed.The footage reportedly captured the suspected gang moments after Kithaka arrived and parked at the station.According to the footage, the suspects closely followed Kithaka’s vehicle before parking their vehicle next to his.
The gang then allegedly used a specialized object to swiftly break the vehicle’s rear window. Within moments, the suspects accessed the vehicle and retrieved the cash before making their getaway.The suspects are reported to have sped away from the scene in the direction of Ruiru, leaving Kithaka to discover the theft only after returning from his shopping.The speed and precision with which the operation was carried out has prompted investigators to treat the incident as part of a wider pattern rather than an isolated robbery.
Officers from Kahawa Sukari Police Station, together with Crime Scene Investigation detectives, have visited the scene as investigations continue.Investigators are examining the CCTV footage and other forensic evidence collected from the scene in an effort to identify the suspects and establish how they tracked the victim from the bank to the petrol station.
The evidence is expected to help detectives reconstruct the sequence of events, identify the vehicle allegedly used by the suspects and establish possible links to other similar incidents reported along the Thika Superhighway, Eastern Bypass, Ruiru and Kasarani.Police Commander Charles Kibathi is leading efforts to trace the suspected network as detectives widen their investigations into the activities of the gang.
The investigation is also focusing on the possibility that the suspects could have been monitoring customers leaving financial institutions before selecting their targets.The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of motorists who carry large amounts of cash after visiting banks and other financial institutions.
For victims, such incidents can be difficult to detect because the suspects may remain at a distance until they identify an opportunity to strike.In this case, the suspects allegedly followed Kithaka before taking advantage of the brief period when he left his vehicle unattended at the petrol station.
The use of CCTV footage has provided investigators with an important lead as they pursue the suspects.Police are now appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed suspicious activity around the Kahawa Sukari Shell Petrol Station or along the route taken by Kithaka to provide information that could assist with the investigation.
Anyone who may have information about the suspected gang, their vehicles or their movements has been urged to come forward and assist detectives in identifying and apprehending the suspects.
Police are also investigating whether the same network could be connected to other similar break-ins reported within Ruiru and Kasarani.The suspected syndicate is believed to have found a haven along the Thika Superhighway and surrounding routes, where it allegedly targets unsuspecting bank customers after they leave financial institutions.
As the manhunt continues, investigators are relying on CCTV footage, forensic evidence and information from members of the public to track down the suspected criminals.The latest incident has once again raised concerns over the security of motorists carrying cash and the need for heightened vigilance, particularly after making substantial withdrawals.
Police have urged members of the public to remain alert and report any suspicious individuals or vehicles they may encounter while travelling from banks or other financial institutions.Meanwhile, detectives continue to pursue leads that could help dismantle the suspected highway syndicate and establish whether it is responsible for other similar incidents reported along the Thika Superhighway, Eastern Bypass and neighbouring areas.
By Brian Angwenyi
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