230 arrested in Mombasa crackdown on suspected muggers

Police in Mombasa have arrested 230 people in a sting operation that targeted suspected muggers in the coastal city.

A police report from Central police station said the swoop was conducted Friday between 11 am and 2 pm.

It said the crackdown was coordinated by a multiagency team comprising officers drawn from the National Police Service and Mombasa County enforcement officers.

The report indicated that the operation was concentrated within Mvita Subcounty where 80 suspects were arrested.

Mombasa County Commissioner Mohamed Noor told the Star that 150 others had been arrested by nightfall bringing a total number of those in custody to 230.

“All searched and placed in custody appearing fit and will be arraigned in court on Monday, April 29, 2024,” police said.  

Incidents of mugging are criminal offences most commonly witnessed in urban establishments like towns and cities.

Perpetrators normally operate in cliques and largely rely on the element of surprise to give their targets little or no time for self-defence or flight.

Whilst on face value it may pass as nothing more than petty theft, mugging is an offence that by law constitutes armed robbery as outlined by Sections 295 and 296(2) of the Penal Code.

“Any person who steals anything, and, at or immediately before or immediately after the time of stealing it, uses or threatens to use actual violence to any person or property to obtain or retain the thing stolen or to prevent or overcome resistance to its being stolen or retained, is guilty of the felony termed robbery,” the law says.

“If the offender is armed with any dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument, or is in company with one or more other person or persons, or if, at or immediately after the time of the robbery, he wounds, beats, strikes or uses any other personal violence to any person, he shall be sentenced to death.”