The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have seized 42 mobile phones in Nairobi, which they suspect to have been stolen.

This occurred during a raid at one mobile phone repair stall located within Pioneer Building along Kimathi Street, Nairobi on Monday afternoon.

Kilimani-based detectives were pursuing a lead after one of the residents was recently attacked and had their mobile phone stolen.

Thirty-year-old Matthew Mwangi Gachago, who is the alleged owner of the shop, was also apprehended by the sleuths.

“…a verification exercise is underway to establish ownership of the seizure,” read part of the investigative agency’s statement.

This recovery is part of a larger operation within Nairobi to eliminate electronic theft allegedly being perpetrated by masquerading mobile phone repair stalls.

Last Tuesday, detectives seized over 182 mobile phones, a laptop, iPad and two heating machines in Ruai and Kamulu areas.

This is after ambushing two electronic repair shops- Free Mack Electronic Shop and Kamale Mobile Repair in Ruai, & Friends Communication Shop in Kamulu.

Five suspects namely; Fredrick Maina, Macnair Gedion, Robin Muturi, John Kamau Mwangi and Kelvin Kamau Njuguna were arrested.

In a similar operation within Kamukunji that day, detectives recovered nine suspected stolen mobile phones within Information Shops nos. 3A and 2B, before proceeding to Cianda Market shop no.426 where 10 more phones were found.

Three suspects identified as; Samuel Kang’ethe, Anthony Kamau & Kelvin Kihara were taken in for questioning.

More electronic devices suspected to have been stolen have also been recovered in Lang’ata, Githurai, Mukuru Kwa Njenga and Embakasi areas.

During the launch of this operation, Nairobi DCI Nairobi Region Coordinator sent out a stern warning to thieves operating within mobile phone repair stalls that their days were numbered.

He also urged legit vendors to exercise extreme caution when dealing with second hand electronics to avoid landing on the wrong side of the law.