Police arrest 3 Burundian citizens, recover 55 stolen phones in Kisii

At least three Burundian nationals were arrested and 55 different stolen mobile phones were recovered from them in Kisii town.

Detectives say they are looking for additional suspects in this case.

Police said all three were mobile phone smugglers.

Police suspect the gadgets were stolen elsewhere and collected for transport to an unknown market and possibly neighboring countries.

The cellphones are believed to have been stolen from residents and other urban areas and were likely to have been sent to Burundi for the fresh market.

This allows new users to use the gadgets without their presence being detected, police say.

These types of incidents are common in urban areas.

Police say the stolen gadgets are being sold to neighboring countries and efforts are underway to dismantle the cartels.

Several suspects have been arrested in Nairobi in connection with operations targeting workshops dealing in stolen gadgets.

Some gadgets are stolen after victims are harmed or even killed, hence serious charges.

Police chief Adamson Bungei has warned used cellphone sellers and electronics engineers and gadget repairers that serious charges will be brought once investigations are completed.

“If you are an engineer or mobile phone repairman, stop dealing with stolen gadgets. Once found, you become an accomplice to crime,” he said.

He said detectives are currently looking for good leads in the case and are trying to address the threat.

Dozens of cell phone users are routinely robbed on the road by thieves who take their gadgets for repairs before they are sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Bungei encouraged people who have had their gadgets stolen to always report it to the police.

Nairobi DCI Regional Coordinator, Njeru Nthiga, has warned mobile phone thieves operating under the guise of phone sellers and phone repair shop owners that detectives are already on their trail, while warning real operators to be careful when handling used electronics as they may be given by them. serious problems with the law.

Police say they are targeting motorcyclists who are behind the trend of gadget theft as part of a move to tackle the problem.