Machakos, Kenya – February 1, 2024: A cunning car theft syndicate targeting high-end vehicles in Nairobi has been apprehended by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Machakos County.
The six suspects, posing as wedding clients, allegedly lured unsuspecting drivers into a terrifying ordeal before stealing their vehicles.
The suspects, aiming for Prados and Isuzu Dmax models, approached rental agencies in Nairobi posing as event organizers needing cars for weddings. They then directed the drivers to designated locations under the pretense of picking up a bride.
At this point, the drivers were allegedly blindfolded and transferred to another vehicle, allowing the perpetrators to disable car trackers and vanish with the stolen vehicles.
Detectives from Machakos DCIO, led by Nzioka Singi, collaborated with Interpol to successfully recover two stolen vehicles from Tanzania. One of them, a Toyota Prado, was found bearing a foreign registration plate, highlighting the potential international reach of the syndicate.
Two suspects are currently held in Machakos prison, while four others appeared before Principal Magistrate Mary Otindo on Wednesday.
They face joint charges of robbery with violence for stealing vehicles with license plates KDH 908T and KDL 030Y on December 2nd, 2023. The investigation remains ongoing, with the possibility of uncovering a larger network.
DCIO Singi expressed concern that numerous vehicles, predominantly stolen from Nairobi, have been transported to Machakos since last year. He urged businesses offering car rentals to remain vigilant and exercise caution when dealing with potential clients.
