2 phone snatchers arrested, stolen devices recovered in Mandera
By Emmanuel Rono, June 12, 2026The National Police Service (NPS) officers have arrested two suspected phone snatchers in Mandera East Sub-County following a police operation that led to the recovery of four stolen mobile phones.
In a statement on Friday , June 2, 2026, NPS said officers acted on intelligence reports and conducted an operation in the Kona B area of Mandera Town, where they arrested the two persons of interest believed to be part of a local phone-snatching syndicate.
Following the arrests, officers searched the suspects’ rented house in Kona B and recovered four mobile phones suspected to have been stolen.
“Two suspected phone snatchers found in possession of stolen mobile phones have been placed in police custody following a successful operation by National Police Service officers in Mandera East Sub-County,” NPS stated.
“Acting on intelligence, the officers conducted an operation in the Kona B area of Mandera Town, leading to the arrest of the two persons of interest, who are believed to be members of a local phone-snatching syndicate.”
Tracing the phone owners
Police said they later traced the owners of the devices, who visited the police station and positively identified the recovered phones as their property.
“The officers subsequently traced the rightful owners, who visited the police station and positively identified their phones,” NPS said.
The arrests are part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to combat crime and dismantle criminal networks operating in different parts of the country.
“The National Police Service remains steadfast in its commitment to serving and protecting the public. Operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks will continue across the country,” the statement said.
Nairobi snatchers
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has recently arrested seven and recovered 150 mobile phones, 16 tablets, and six laptops in a major crackdown on a phone theft and black-market network operating in Nairobi.
In a statement posted on its official X account on Saturday, January 24, 2026, the DCI revealed that a multi-agency team led by the Operation Support Unit (OSU) mounted an intelligence-led operation across various parts of the city following public outcry over increased phone snatching cases.
“Following public outcry from city dwellers over increased cases of mobile phone snatching and theft, a multi-agency team led by the DCI’s Operation Support Unit (OSU) mounted an intelligence-led operation in various parts of the city,” the DCI stated.