Police have asked residents of Nairobi to be careful whenever they are driving at night due to rising cases of carjackings in and around the capital.
This comes after a motorist was carjacked outside Ruaka One River Apartments on the evening of May 7, 2021 – before driving away in his vehicle said to be a Toyota Premio.
According to the detectives, the owner of the car was carjacked by a gang of armed criminals as he drove to his residence at night from work.
“The victim pulled over by the apartment’s gate, unaware that a gang of three assailants was laying in wait for him. As the gates opened, the driver’s window was suddenly smashed with an iron rod, before two shots were fired in the air from a pistol in an attempt to subdue him.
“However, he managed to force his way into the parking lot, a move that wouldn’t waver the gangs’ robbery mission. Before he could jump out of the car to run for safety, the trio caught up with him, roughed him up before grabbing his car keys and phone,” stated the DCI officers who are investigating the incident.
According to DCI detectives based in Kiambu who responded after receiving the alarm – the criminals drove towards Ndenderu.
The detectives later found the stolen vehicle abandoned in Kagongo village, having been extensively vandalized.
“Its rear and front headlights, side mirrors, all tyres, nose guard, boot and radio were missing. Detectives believe that the three suspects are part of a lager criminal syndicate operating within Kiambu county,” noted the DCI.
According to the police, the criminals have been targeting taxi drivers where they pose as customers, only to turn against the drivers at isolated places, then assault the drivers and vandalize their vehicles.
Most carjackings occur in high crime areas, but many others are happening in the safer, especially in wealthier parts of Nairobi.
They occurs for a variety of reasons, including fleeing the scene of a crime. Carjacking may be linked to other crimes where your vehicle could be used as a getaway car. In most cases, however, the criminals come to take the car, or, like was the case in the Ruaka incident, they could be looking to steal parts of the vehicle.
Never fight carjackers
Victims are advised to assess the situation quickly when carjacked. Observe if the aggressor is confrontational, or if they have a weapon. Are there one or more than one of them? According to the police, non-confrontation is the best response to a carjacker because “The objective is not to thwart the criminal but to survive!”
Motorists are advised to never fight back as they could get injured or even killed in the process.
The latest National Police Service (NPS) report on crime hotspots lists the following roads as being the most dangerous roads in the Nairobi area.
Adams Arcade matatu stage, City stadium roundabout, Church Army stage on Jogoo Road, Kipande Road, Turnoff to Kenya Institute of Mass Communication from Mombasa Road, Baba Dogo area, the Kangundo/Outer Ring road junction, Bahati estate, Survey of Kenya stage on Thika superhighway, Toi market.
The DCI cautioned Kenyans on this trend even as they intensified crackdown on the perpetrators. The officers also asked motorists to call 0800 722 203 to speak to officers anonymously should they need help at zero cost.