Tension was high in Makueni County after a stolen Subaru vehicle belonging to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) was recovered in a dramatic police operation. The incident happened on Sunday evening, drawing a large crowd as security officers fired several warning shots into the air to stop the suspects.
According to police sources, the Subaru, which was stolen from Nairobi two days ago, was tracked using a GPS device installed in it. Officers from the DCI followed the signal to a remote area in Makueni where the car was being hidden.
When the officers approached the location, the suspects tried to escape, prompting the police to fire bullets in the air to scare them and force them to surrender. The shots caused panic among residents who were nearby, with some running for safety thinking a shootout had started.
“No one was injured in the incident. The officers only fired to stop the suspects from escaping,” a police officer at the scene said.
Two suspects, believed to be part of a car theft syndicate, were arrested during the operation. Police said the syndicate has been targeting high-end government and private vehicles for sale in the black market or for dismantling and selling parts.
The Subaru was later confirmed to be the same one that was reported stolen from a DCI officer who had parked it near a shopping centre in Nairobi. Investigators believe the thieves used duplicate keys and quickly drove it out of the city.
Residents of Makueni expressed shock that such a high-profile crime could be connected to their area. Many praised the police for acting swiftly and recovering the vehicle before it could disappear completely.
The two suspects are currently being held at the Makueni Police Station and are expected to be transferred to Nairobi for further questioning and prosecution.
DCI officers have promised to continue the investigation to uncover more members of the gang and recover other stolen vehicles linked to the group.
By Kenyans