Five arrested in twin crackdowns on vehicle and livestock syndicates

In the first case, officers in Makindu pounced on two suspects believed to be behind a string of vehicle thefts

Detectives have arrested five suspects in separate operations that disrupted an alleged highway motor vehicle theft network in Makindu and a cross-county livestock racket spanning Embu and Kirinyaga counties.

In the first case, officers in Makindu pounced on two suspects believed to be behind a string of vehicle thefts along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Police said the duo was linked to the robbery of a black Toyota Harrier on August 28, 2025.

The arrests, effected during an operation along the highway, also led to the recovery of a set of registration plates, three national identity cards belonging to different people, five mobile phones, a wheel spanner and other assorted items.

Investigators suspect the pair may be part of a wider network targeting vehicles en route to Uganda and those carrying KD plates.

The two are currently in custody, undergoing processing and will be arraigned once investigations are completed, police said in a statement on Saturday.

Detectives said they are also pursuing additional leads that could expose a larger vehicle theft syndicate operating on major transit corridors.

Meanwhile, in Embu and Kirinyaga, detectives busted what they described as a cross-county stock theft operation.

The dragnet began in Embu, where two men were arrested while using a Toyota Sienta allegedly to ferry stolen animals at night.

The operation was extended to Kerugoya town, where officers apprehended a third suspect, said to be the receiver of stolen livestock.

A raid on her premises led to the recovery of a heifer suspected to have been stolen from Kianjoma, a Friesian cow believed to have been taken from Karatina, 10 goats, five kids and one sheep.

"All three suspects are currently in custody, undergoing processing, pending arraignment," police said.

The recovery of multiple animals from different locations points to a coordinated racket that has been troubling farmers in the region.

Police are urging members of the public, especially motorists and livestock keepers, to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

They noted that the twin operations underline the growing threat posed by organised criminal groups targeting both rural communities and highway users.