Six Arrested After Botched Burglary Attempt in South B, Nairobi
During the arrests, detectives recovered forged number plates and an assortment of tools presumed to have been used during the break-ins.
The police also believe that part of the stolen property may have been trafficked outside the country. Photo/courtesy
By Ruth sang
Among those arrested are a woman and a Tanzanian national who were apprehended on Sunday after an attempted house break-in in the Jokim area of South B, Nairobi. Their arrest is believed to have disrupted a burglary ring linked to numerous break-ins reported across several premier neighbourhoods in the city.
According to the police, the group is suspected to be involved in a series of house burglaries in Westlands, Parklands, South B, South C, Kilimani, and Lavington. The suspects mainly targeted homes left unoccupied, especially over weekends and holidays when many residents were away.
According to police, the operation to arrest the suspects followed weeks of investigation into similar incidents. Detectives suspect that some of the break-ins may have been facilitated by security guards stationed at residential properties, though this aspect is still under investigation.
Makadara Sub-County Police Commander Judith Nyongesa said the suspects mainly stole household goods, including electronics, clothes and money. The gang reportedly gained access to households using master keys and other special tools and was moving in three vehicles-a Toyota Prado, a Nissan X-Trail and a Mazda Demio-all thought to have been fitted with falsified registration plates. The police also believe that part of the stolen property may have been trafficked outside the country.
The suspects were arrested on Sunday, November 16, 2025, after attempting to break into a residence whose owners were out of town. The occupants, who were traveling, noticed strange activity around their home via remote access to their CCTV cameras and immediately called their caretaker and a neighbor.
The neighbour informed the officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, who arrived immediately. Security cameras captured the dramatic moment when police vehicles hemmed in and boxed the suspects’ car as they sought to flee. The officers ordered the gang, at gunpoint, to get out of the vehicle before apprehending them.
Police say at least one suspect had been associated with the commission of similar burglaries, and another-said to be of Indian origin-appeared in the CCTV recordings of earlier burglaries. The lone female in the group is believed to have acted as a lookout to monitor the area and warn the others in case security personnel approached.
During the arrests, detectives recovered forged number plates and an assortment of tools presumed to have been used during the break-ins.
Police have called on the residents who may be victims of related incidents to report to the nearest police station to aid in the investigation. Nyongesa asked the affected persons to make formal complaints with the National Police Service so that detectives could compile evidence ahead of the suspects’ appearance in court. As the holiday season sets in, Nyongesa advised Nairobi residents to be particularly alert. She urged homeowners to enhance their security arrangements, select guards who they feel are trustworthy, and ensure that their surveillance systems work.
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