Police have arrested two Iranian nationals in connection with a suspected mobile phone shop con in Thika, Nairobi County, following an incident that nearly escalated into mob justice.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspects—Heidari Mansoior Eslam (56) and Babaei Ahmad Mirzaaga (40)—were apprehended after being positively identified by shopkeepers as perpetrators of a similar theft that occurred about a month ago.
Arrest Triggered by Recognition
DCI said the two men walked into a mobile phone shop posing as potential customers. However, the shopkeeper quickly recognised them from a previous robbery incident and alerted a colleague whose shop had been targeted earlier.
Upon arrival, the second shopkeeper identified the suspects and confronted them, raising an alarm that attracted members of the public.
“The other shopkeeper positively identified the two foreigners, as he was indeed a victim of their stupefying tactics, which had left him Sh15,000 poorer a month ago,” the DCI said in a statement.
Police Intervene to Prevent Mob Justice
Police officers arrived at the scene in time and rescued the two suspects from an irate crowd that had begun to gather following the confrontation.
The suspects were immediately taken into custody and booked at Thika Police Station.
Next Steps
Authorities said the two will remain in custody as investigations continue and are expected to be arraigned in court once the probe is complete.
The DCI reiterated its call to the public to report suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies and to avoid taking the law into their own hands.
