Independent Private Investigators Association of Kenya Chairman- Steve Odero gave a detailed report on how a notorious gang has been robbing unsuspecting bank clients in broad daylight.
A combination of spies positioned in banking halls, as well as a few dodgy bank tellers, has enabled the gang identified as Mahu to pounce on anyone who makes a substantial withdrawal before they even know what hit them.
"These gangs work with bank tellers who use phones with unregistered SIM cards to tip the gang off whenever a potential target makes a large withdrawal," the private investigator revealed to the Standard.
Mr Odero revealed that his investigations uncovered just how well organized the gang is, with tales of how they use top-of-the-range vehicles and seductive women to hoodwink any by-passers as they carry out their swift robbery.
A recent victim of the gang- David Otieno revealed how he lost Ksh157,000 on February 15, 2019, just a few hours after he had withdrawn the money from a bank in Industrial area, Nairobi.
Mr Otieno claimed that the whole process of withdrawing his money took too long with the teller, who he revealed was unfamiliar to him, seemingly taking his time.
"At one point, the teller picked his phone from the counter and excused himself, he came back after five minutes and asked if I needed an envelope to store the cash," Mr Otieno disclosed.
Upon stashing his money in the envelope so readily availed by the teller, Otieno left the banking hall and made his way to Bishop House near Capital Hill in Nairobi, where he was scheduled to pick his daughter's birth certificate.
He allegedly parked near the building's entrance where two police officers were stationed, paying little regard to a luxurious vehicle that parked right next to him as he made his way into the building.
Five minutes later, Mr Otieno came out to find his car's front door had been tampered with and his money missing. The officers stationed at the parking lot reportedly hadn't noticed any suspicious activity.
Mr Odero revealed that Mr Otieno's case fitted the gangs Modus Operandi (MO) as the gang moves in a group of three; two men and an elegantly dressed lady.
Once they are informed of a large withdrawal, they patiently trail the unsuspecting client using high-end vehicles until they come to a stop.
They then park nearby and the lady and one man step out of the car and pretend to be engaged in a heated debate or argument in order to shield the third man, who at this point is busy using a modified screw-driver to break into the targets car and make away with the loot in under 3 minutes.
Investigations further revealed that in cases where the trail ended at a target's home, the gang call up another unit known as Kot Kot, whose speciality is breaking into houses and stealing cash and electronic goods.
