A dramatic incident occurred in Nairobi when a suspected phone snatcher opened the window of a moving matatu and snatched a passenger's phone. The incident was captured on video and has since circulated on social media. In the footage, the suspected thief is seen moving towards the window of the moving matatu before swiftly opening it and snatching the passenger's phone. He immediately runs away, weaving between other matatus as the vehicle continues along the road.
The passenger appears determined to recover his phone and climbs out through the same window before running after the suspect. It is not clear whether the victim managed to catch up with the suspected thief or recover his phone. The incident comes amid continued reports of phone snatching in Nairobi, with police carrying out operations targeting suspected thieves and networks dealing in stolen mobile devices.
In July, the National Police Service said phone snatching remained a common challenge in Nairobi, with criminals targeting pedestrians and motorists before using the city's busy streets to escape. The police have been conducting operations to curb the menace, including an arrest of four people in separate operations in Kawangware and the Nairobi Bus Station area.
During the operations, police recovered mobile phones and other electronic gadgets believed to have been stolen. Days earlier, police arrested five suspects in an operation in Mathare's Kosovo area and recovered 65 assorted mobile phones, three laptops and other items believed to have been stolen. The scale of the trade was further highlighted in January when detectives recovered more than 900 suspected stolen phones in Nairobi's Central Business District.
The devices were intercepted in packages allegedly destined for Uganda. The incident highlights the growing concern over phone snatching in Nairobi, particularly near busy roads and on public transport. Residents are advised to be cautious when using mobile phones in such areas to minimize the risk of being targeted by thieves.
This is not the first incident of phone snatching from a moving vehicle. In August, police said four men had allegedly robbed a passenger of a phone from a moving vehicle in Githurai, triggering a pursuit. One man was later fatally shot, although his family disputed the police account and said he had been wrongly accused.
The latest video adds to growing concern over the risks faced by Nairobi residents using mobile phones near busy roads and on public transport. The police are working to curb the menace, but residents are advised to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their property.
Key points
- Phone snatching remains a common challenge in Nairobi, with criminals targeting pedestrians and motorists.
- Police have recovered hundreds of suspected stolen phones in recent operations.
- Residents are advised to be cautious when using mobile phones near busy roads and on public transport.
