Watch out for the vehicle that hits yours from behind, police warn
Police spokesman Charles Owino speaks to journalists outside Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission offices in Nairobi on September 11, 2015. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Owino has advised the public to assess the situation or their surroundings before they stop, or pull over only when they reach a safe public place.
- Police records also indicate that some victims, including a police officer, have been killed in similar circumstances.
- At least seven other cases have been reported in the last one week on Mombasa, Jogoo and Kangundo roads.
There is a re-emerging trend where criminals in vehicles hit their targets' car from behind before robbing them when they stop, police now warn.
Kenya Police spokesman Charles Owino on Tuesday said there was a surge in the "bump and rob" cases especially in Nairobi, where at least 10 people have been attacked in the past two weeks.
In one incident on Sunday night, Mr Timothy Rotich was driving along Manyanja Road when his car was was hit by another vehicle from behind.
He stopped to assess the damage but four men, one armed with a pistol, got out of the car and forced him to the back seat of his car.
They drove around with him in his car, a Suzuki Escudo, registration number KBS 331S, before finally dumping him on Kangundo Road.
They robbed him of Sh10,000, a mobile phone and the vehicle. By Monday evening, the car had not been found.
ASSESS THE SITUATION
Mr Owino has advised the public to assess the situation or their surroundings before they stop, or pull over only when they reach a safe public place.
“We advise members of the public to be very cautious especially at night or in isolated areas. Additional police officers will be deployed in areas where such incidents have been reported,” he said.
Police records also indicate that some victims, including a police officer, have been killed in similar circumstances.
On September 26, Constable Johnson Muimi, who was attached to the Anti-Narcotics Unit, was shot dead at the gate of Moi Forces Academy.
Mr Muimi had been driving along Juja Road at around 9pm when his car was hit by a motorcycle from behind.
The officer stopped to check the damage but one of the two men on the motorcycle drew a pistol and shot him on the left side of the chest.
The attackers then fled from the scene without stealing anything from him. Police found one spent 9mm-calibre cartridge at the scene.
At least seven other cases were reported on Mombasa, Jogoo and Kangundo roads in the last one week.
