Four suspects arrested in latest motorcycle theft syndicate crackdown

Police arrested four suspects and recovered 59 motorcycles, 35 engines and other spare parts in Eldoret. [Lynn Kolongei, Standard]

Police in Eldoret have arrested four suspects believed to be behind the motorcycle theft syndicate in Uasin Gishu county and Western region.

On Monday, Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi said officers acting on a tip-off, recovered 59 motorcycles and 35 engines among other assorted spare parts.

One of the prime suspects is a motorcycle ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/western/article/2000059049/police-unearth-motorcycle-theft-syndicate">dealer whose premises< was raided and motorcycles suspected to have been stolen were found.

“We have been investigating this syndicate for some time and we made a breakthrough over the weekend following a tip-off from the public and our own investigations during which we confiscated the motorcycles and arrested key suspects,” Mwanthi said.

The police boss said that the suspects have been on police radar after cases of motorcycle theft were reported in the area.

“We urge those who may have been victims of the unfortunate events to visit the Eldoret Central Police Station to help identify some of the recovered motorcycles and engines,” Mwanthi said, adding that some of the exhibits had already been identified.

The police commander who was flanked by the County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) Daniel Muleli and the Central Police Station OCS Naftali Muthui revealed that the suspects tampered with the motorcycle engines and interchanged spare parts to conceal identification of the stolen motorcycles.

“The suspects first removed the trackers on the motorcycles making it difficult for the owners to trace them. The stolen bikes were then taken to a garage in Kapsoya which we visited. They then erase the engine numbers and frame numbers and print fake ones after which they dismantle the motorbikes and use the parts to assemble afresh,” he said.

Mwanthi said that once the motorcycles are assembled, the suspects print fresh documents and log books and sell them to unsuspecting residents.

As the police addressed the media, hundreds of boda boda operators and motorcycle owners thronged the station to identify their stolen motorbikes or spare parts. They said that most of them had lost their livelihoods after their motorcycles were stolen.

“My bike was stolen at night in the Munyaka area. It has been three weeks now. I have now found some parts of my bike including the bike tank and passenger seat. Most of our motorbikes were stolen at night while parked while other boda boda operators were robbed while at work,” Reuben Kamau, a rider said.

Joseph Lokai, another rider, said that his ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/national/article/2001425912/police-bust-motorbikes-theft-syndicate-recover-over-350-motorcycle-logbooks">motorbike was stolen last< month from the parking outside his house, and he had only found some spare parts that were tampered with.

“I was using my personal bike to get to work every day. I am now inconvenienced because I have to pay fare to get to my workplace,” he said.

Mwanthi noted that the number of recovered motorbikes was higher than the reported cases in Eldoret.

“That means the syndicate is wide and affects neighboring counties up to the Western region because the motorcycles we have are more than the reported cases that we have received from Uasin Gishu county,” he said.

Muleli said that further investigations and forensic analysis will be conducted.

He hailed the public for providing crucial information that helped police burst the motorcycle theft syndicate.

Muleli said that they are pursuing more suspects.