Phone snatchers turn Tom Mboya street into their 'playground'

Tom Mboya street in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) is gaining notoriety as a 'phone snatching hotspot'.

The vice is slowly becoming a form of ‘city sport’ among the thieves -- according to some of the residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting.

The thieves are said to mostly target women and visitors to the capital, people they believe do not have the bile to chase them down the dangerous corridors.

In April, the Motorists Association of Kenya, umbrella driver and vehicle owner advocacy raised concern over rising cases of phone snatching in certain areas of Nairobi.

According to some of the residents who spoke to Wananchi Reporting, the phone snatchers often target vehicles caught up in Nairobi traffic.

“The thieves are in almost every spot along Tom Mboya street. If you are keen, you will see them scanning vehicles as they try to pick their targets,” says Julia Wanjiru, a trader along the street.

“Sometime they work in teams, moving up and down trying to distract their targets before snatching their gadgets from them, often through the car’s window. It’s like this is their daily hustle,” she says.

Just recently, a young man was beaten to a pulp, and almost lynched after he stole a mobile phone from a matatu passenger.

The owner of the phone is said to have jumped out of the moving vehicle, through the window, and pursued the thief who tried in vain to melt into the crowds.

“The man got back his phone. I heard from some of the passengers that he was a military officer. The thief was beaten and left for dead,” says Wanjiru.

Reports indicate that most of the theft happens during the morning traffic, and late in the evening, feeding into early parts of the night.

Racecourse road, River Road, Kirinyaga road, and Ronald Ngala street have also been identified as phone snatching hotspots.

“The thieves like to target personal service vehicles and matatus,” says Wanjiru.

Residents have been asked to be vigilant whenever they are using their mobile phones while in the CBD.

Also, residents are asking the police to enhance security in Nairobi town especially during rush hour.