Police in Nairobi County have detected a concerning pattern in Dandora where a criminal network utilized a mobile phone repair business as a disguise for hiding and trafficking stolen goods.
The National Police Service verified these developments in a statement on May 27, confirming the arrest of five individuals during a targeted operation.
According to officials, the action was based on intelligence information and increased monitoring in the region, as authorities expressed worry about rising cases of mobile phone thefts and robberies.
“Following reliable information, police officers conducted a search at a mobile phone repair center in Dandora Phase III, which is now suspected to have functioned as a storage and distribution hub for stolen items,” the NPS announced.
During the search, authorities seized 21 mobile phones of various models, believed to have been taken from residents through theft and snatching incidents in nearby residential areas.
Police also found 12 Kenya Power token meters that were allegedly removed from homes and concealed within the shop.
The five arrested individuals will stay in custody while investigations continue and they await court proceedings.
The discovery has sparked alarm regarding the growing exploitation of regular businesses as fronts for criminal activities, especially in crowded neighborhoods.
In a separate initiative, the Kenya Copyrights Board carried out operations in the pipeline region, where they seized broadcasting equipment suspected of being used illegally.
The confiscated items included decoders, amplifiers, splitters, cables and other broadcasting accessories believed to have been employed to enable unauthorized access and public display of premium programming. Three individuals have been taken into custody.