Suspected Catapult Gang Arrested After Robbing Businessman Ksh.3 Million in Nairobi

Police have detained five suspects thought to be members of a gang that broke into a businessman's car in Nairobi's South C neighbourhood and stole nearly Ksh.3 million a fortnight ago.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the five suspects used a catapult to burst the vehicle's window before fleeing with a bag containing Ksh.900,000 and another USD 15,000 (approximately Ksh.2 million).

The five are: Charles Nzomo, Paul Mukungi, Vincent Raguma, Jane Mueni, and Shaban Rashid Maingi.

 They are also said to have taken the businessman's KCB, DTB, and Gulf African Bank ATM cards, a national ID card, a smart driver's licence, and work-related paperwork.

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He thereafter received notification that Ksh.40,000 had been withdrawn from his DTB and KCB accounts using an ATM in Embakasi, Nairobi.

After the man reported the incident, the Nairobi region Crime Research team and the Operations Unit launched a forensic-led investigation and apprehended the five suspects after tracing Nzomo's car to Tsavo Gardens and retrieving the victim's KCB ATM card and a catapult, which was allegedly used to break into the car.

According to CCTV evidence, Nzomo was captured smashing the car window with a catapult, Mukungu and Raguma were on the lookout, Mueni was observing the victim, and Maingi had placed a getaway Mazda Demio car outside.

"All this time, another female suspect, Jane Mueni was busy stalking the victim, as Shaban Rashid Maingi waited in a getaway Mazda Demio fitted with registration plates KCE 822F belonging to a Subaru car," the Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) reported.

The victim reported the incident to Akila Police Station in Lang'ata, stating that the gang attacked him after he parked his BMW X1 to attend an auto parts shop on Muhoho Road, outside Rubis Police Station.

In less than five minutes, the suspects stole a bag containing the money, leaving a damaged back window.

According to the DCI, the suspects are suspected to be linked to another four individuals captured on February 16 last year after many automobile break-ins were recorded using the same tools in the same location.

The five suspects are being held in the DCI Lang'ata offices await their arraignment after the Easter weekend.

Meanwhile, plans are ongoing to recover a second car and catch a sixth suspect, Rodgers Ndung'u, who is thought to have fled to Mombasa.