Arrest/ FILE
Police have arrested a suspect believed to be a key receiver of stolen mobile phones and recovered dozens of handsets and phone components during a targeted operation in Kisii Town.
The National Police Service (NPS) said officers from Kisii Central Police Station carried out the raid after receiving intelligence linking the suspect to the handling and sale of suspected stolen electronic devices.
The operation was conducted at business premises located at Uhuru Plaza, where officers recovered several mobile phones and accessories believed to have been acquired illegally.
“The operation led to the recovery of suspected stolen handsets and components,” NPS said in a statement.
Among the items recovered were nine mobile phones, 24 assorted handsets of different makes and models, nine mobile phone batteries and 33 additional batteries allegedly removed from other suspected stolen devices.
The suspect was taken into custody and is being held at Kisii Central Police Station pending processing and arraignment in court.
Investigators have since launched efforts to identify the rightful owners of the recovered items as they seek to dismantle a wider network involved in the trade of stolen electronics in the region.
Police said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb electronic theft and disrupt criminal syndicates that profit from stolen property.
NPS emphasised that cooperation between law enforcement agencies, the private sector and members of the public remains crucial in the fight against technology-related crime.
The arrest comes barely a day after a similar operation in Meru County targeting individuals suspected of providing a market for stolen goods.
In the Meru operation, officers from Maua Police Station arrested another suspect and recovered dozens of items believed to have been stolen, including mobile phones, phone covers, television remote controls, audio equipment and household items.
Police said such networks sustain crimes such as theft, burglary and robbery by creating a ready market for stolen property.
“Crimes such as muggings, burglaries and housebreakings are often sustained by networks of individuals who provide a ready market for stolen goods,” NPS said.
The service warned that purchasing or concealing suspected stolen property not only deprives victims of their belongings but also fuels further criminal activity.
“By purchasing and concealing stolen items, these individuals encourage criminal activity and make it harder for victims to recover their belongings,” police said.
NPS reiterated that handling suspected stolen property is a criminal offence and warned members of the public against engaging in transactions involving items of questionable origin.
Police said operations targeting the trade in stolen goods will continue as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating across the country.
