New details have emerged of how the bank robbers who broke into Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Thika branch through an underground tunnel and made away with Sh50 Million.
Initial investigations by the police have resulted in the arrest of three people; a woman and two men in the theft that has left Kenyans baffled.
The three are being detained at Thika police station while their identities have not been revealed.
In what seems was a heist that required meticulous planning and patience, the robbers are alleged to have dug a hole under the bank- an operation that began in June and culminated in the eventual break-in on Monday.
Kiambu County Commandant Adiel Nyange told reporters that the apprehended suspects are the custodians of the exhibition stalls from where the tunnel was dug from.
[caption caption="Kiambu County Commandant Adiel Nyange"]
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The stalls are directly opposite the bank- and according to the police, the owners of the shop rented three stalls early in the year and had been secretly digging the hole for six months.
Further investigations by the Police Commandant have indicated that the suspects had been stocking soil from the tunnel in one of the rented shops and cleverly packing cartons of books on top to conceal their activity.
Mr Nyange explained that the robbers gained access to the strong room and brock into two safes.
They weren't short of sophisticated tools as they used oxy-acetylene flame which is used in welding to drill holes in the safes.
The commandant added there was no police involvement in the heist assuring that they were close to solving the crime.
[caption caption="File image of KCB bank Thika Branch"]
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On Monday, the branch manager, Samuel Ng'anga, realized that money had been stolen from the safes when conducting a routine check on the strong room.
"I opened the strong room only to find that it had been broken into earlier and cash stolen," he stated.
At the scene of the robbery, Deputy police commander Mr Bernard Ayoo stated that: "The robbers must have had an informer working at the bank who guided them into where the safes are kept. So far no suspect has been arrested. Investigations are ongoing."
Through its Twitter account, the bank confirmed the break-in indicating that relevant authorities have been informed and investigations are ongoing.
"We wish to assure all our customers that their funds are safe and there is no cause for alarm. Customers seeking to transact can do so at any other KCB branch or access services through our mobile and internet banking platforms," the statement read.
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