Nairobi County Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosiria has warned of a new trick used by thieves in the Central Business District to steal from Kenyans, as cases of robbery skyrocket.
During a routine patrol in the Nairobi Central Business District on Saturday night, Mosiria revealed that some of the thugs were posing as police officers after busting a suspected thief in possession of handcuffs.
In a video shared by the county official, the man, a member of a street family, was seen being questioned by the county employees on where he found the handcuffs, which were determined to belong to the National Police Service (NPS).
Although the man insisted that he had found the handcuffs while rummaging through trash, Mosiria insisted he was among the CBD thieves who steal from unwitting Kenyans by impersonating police officers.
As such, the man was taken into custody at the Central Police Station as the chief officer urged any Kenyans who had had a run-in with the suspect to present themselves to the station.
"Tonight, during our joint operation with the National Police Service in the CBD, we arrested a man believed to be part of street families who harass and steal from the public. Upon searching his belongings, we found him in possession of police handcuffs," the statement read in part.
"This comes amid numerous complaints from residents about impostors posing as police officers to harass and extort money, as well as criminal gangs using such tactics. We arrested him, and he's now in custody awaiting arraignment in court."
Mosiria further assured that his department would be working to clear all illegal structures that criminals often use as hideouts when terrorising the public.
"The National Police Service has assured residents of intensified enforcement to ensure that all criminal gangs are eradicated from the CBD," he stated.
This arrest comes amid rising fears of infamous gangs returning to the CBD, with many city dwellers narrating their experiences, most of which involve unknowingly being drugged.
On September 3, Mosiria announced a joint crackdown with the NPS on criminal elements within the CBD after a surge in mugging incidents using this tactic that involves being drugged by a substance dubbed the "Devil's breath".
This drug, scientifically known as scopolamine, is used by criminals in powder form by being blown in a victim's face. It can also be transferred through handshakes, paper or other contaminated items.
Since one of the side effects of the chemical is disorientation, victims often experience confusion and eventually surrender their items to the criminals, sometimes unknowingly and with no memory of it after the fact.
While announcing the crackdown, the chief officer even accused some of the content creators flooding the city of being posers who later transformed into robbers.
“They pretend to be content creators during the day, but by around 5pm, they begin stealing from unsuspecting people,” Mosiria said.
