Police in Machakos County have apprehended four suspects in connection with a series of robberies targeting hardware shops in the Machakos and Joska areas. The suspects, identified as Wycliffe Matheka Kithuku, Cynthia Mbithe Musyoka, Jackson Wambua Mutinda, and Brian Wambua Maanza, were arrested during a police sting operation conducted on Thursday.
Authorities recovered several items believed to have been used in the crimes. Among the confiscated items was a motorcycle with registration number KMGP 114M, which the suspects allegedly used as their getaway vehicle. Officers also seized a bolt cutter and a long metal rod, tools that were reportedly used to threaten security guards during the robberies.
As part of the ongoing investigation, officers detained another suspect in Machakos town. Following interrogation, the suspect led detectives to a scrap metal dealer, where a cache of stolen items was discovered. The recovered goods included 200 kilograms of nails, 25 kilograms of hoop iron, and a laptop, all of which had been stolen from a hardware store in Joska.
Investigators revealed that three of the suspects Kithuku, Mutinda, and Maanza are former convicts who were recently released from Machakos GK Prison. Authorities believe that after their release, the trio quickly reverted to criminal activities, targeting hardware businesses in the region.
The four suspects remain in police custody as they await their court appearance. The recovered items have been stored as evidence, and investigators are continuing their efforts to dismantle any further criminal networks linked to the robberies.
