Police in Nyeri have raised the alarm over rising cases of phone-snatching and are now urging the public to cooperate with security agents in arresting the culprits.

Nyeri Sub-County Police Commander Andrew Mbogo says criminal elements have resorted to stealing phones from unsuspecting pedestrians within the town’s Central Business District (CBD) and its environs, with police having so far recovered 314 cell phones and seven iPads in the last one year.

Mbogo similarly said police, acting on a tip-off from the public, had recovered 17 heads of cattle believed to have been stolen and were currently holding six suspects as investigations into the matter continue.

“We have here with us a total of 314 phones and seven iPads which we have recovered from various suspects within the last one year. We are requesting anyone who may have lost his or her phone either accidentally or through robbery during this period to come to our Nyeri office on September 22 with proper identification documents to identify the gadgets and verify ownership,” he told the press.

The officer said they already have suspects in court facing charges in connection with the phone thefts.

Police are also planning to present in court the other six suspects arrested in connection with the stolen livestock, once investigations are complete.

The officer, however, cited lack of cooperation from complainants who had lost their phones to criminals, noting that most of them opted to withdraw their cases from court after getting back their devices.

Mbogo said the situation left the police in an awkward position since they cannot pursue a case without a complainant or exhibit.

“One of the challenges we are facing in our fight against criminal activities in Nyeri is caused by complainants who request to withdraw their cases. Some complainants feel that once they have recovered what they had lost, there is no need to follow up on the matter. In the end, police are left with a suspect in court but without a complainant, and prosecutors are left with no choice but to terminate the case, so the suspect walks out free,” he pointed out.

He has therefore called for mutual cooperation between security officers and members of the public to ensure that those found engaging in criminal activities are made to pay for their offences.

– By Samuel Maina & Diana Odipo, KNA