Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested a notorious cross-border car theft dealer in Loitoktok along the Kenya-Tanzania border.

In a statement on Monday November 11, 2024, DCI noted that the suspect has been escaping arrest for a long time.

During the incident, officers from Loitoktok Police Station arrested the suspect identified as Muchiri and recovered a stolen vehicle, a white Toyota Dyna mini-truck with the registration number KCG 508Q. 

“While on a routine patrol, the vigilant officers spotted the suspect behind the wheel of the vehicle. 

“Sensing the heat was on, Muchiri made a break for it, abandoning the truck and sprinting away. 

“However, the officers were hot on his heels, leading to a swift chase that ultimately ended in his arrest,” read part of the DCI statement. 

The suspect was escorted to Loitoktok Police Station, where further interrogation unveiled a deeply unsettling truth.

Police also discovered that Muchiri is a key player in an organized car theft syndicate that has been systematically robbing unsuspecting members of the public. 

The stolen vehicles are then smuggled across the border into a neighbouring country and sold at rock-bottom prices.

It was further established that the recovered vehicle had been stolen from a 32-year-old man Evans Havi, who was found unconscious at Kalii guest house. 

Preliminary investigations indicate that Muchiri dragged Havi before escaping with the vehicle. 

The suspect is in police custody, undergoing processing as detectives prepare for his arraignment in court while the recovered motor vehicle is being detained as exhibit. 

Meanwhile, DCI urged members of the public to stay on high alert, as criminals not only use violence but are increasingly employing new tactics, including stupefying individuals in order to carry out their criminal activities.