Rwandan national arrested in Mombasa in phones theft crackdown
The arrest highlights ongoing police efforts to crack down on mobile phone theft in Mombasa.
Police in Mombasa have arrested a Rwandan national suspected of handling stolen mobile phones following a crackdown on rampant thefts of the devices in the region.
The suspect was nabbed in the Kadzandani area of Kisauni Sub-County after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) traced him as a receiver of stolen property.
Officers conducting a search of his premises seized 10 smartphones and a power bank.
His passport is reported to have expired, adding to his list of alleged offences.
According to security authorities, the suspect reportedly refused to cooperate with police regarding the sources of the stolen phones.
However, DCI officers from the Coast region’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau have linked three recovered phones to recent reported thefts.
The identified victims include Stephen Omondi whose Techno Spark KJ5 was stolen in the Tudor Poly area on November 5, 2024, Aberdeen Jafferji who lost a Techno Spark K15K to thieves at Nyali bridge on November 1, 2024 and Charles Ogeyo whose Samsung Galaxy A15 went missing in the Government Chemist area on November 4, 2024.
DCI officers are now working to identify the IMEIs and owners of the other seized phones as investigations continue.
The suspect is expected to face charges, including robbery, handling stolen goods, and unlawful presence in the country.
The recovered phones are being held as evidence.
The arrest highlights ongoing police efforts to crack down on mobile phone theft in Mombasa.
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