Puzzle of Sh36m robbery that never was

By Cyrus Ombati

Gunmen duped managers at a security firm and stole Sh36 million without firing a single shot, but police recovered the cash ¨C without a fight.

In what appeared like a story from a movie script, complete with lies, fake identities, guns, suspense, a full police operation that spread to Nairobi, Thika, Kiambu, Limuru, and Naivasha, the money was recovered some 12 hours later intact.

The money was being transported to Garissa town by two Wells Fargo security company vans when the incident occurred at 6am.

According to police and the security company officials, the money had been picked up from Equity Centre in Upper Hill area, Nairobi, on Thursday evening and stored overnight at the firm¡¯s strong room awaiting transportation Friday morning.

Four Administration Police officers were supposed to escort the money and were to be picked up from the Administration Police Training College¡¯s Rapid Deployment Unit headquarters in Embakasi.

The drama, which seemed well planned, started when the driver of one of the security vans went and picked up six gunmen in police uniform and drove them to Wells Fargo strong room.

And by 5.30am they were cleared and hit the road towards Garissa town through Thika Road.

On reaching Juja Town, they diverted towards Juja Farm, where they drove into a rough road about five kilometres off the main highway. A black Nissan X-Trail joined them before the cash, which was in one of the vans, was transferred to the other van. The gunmen drove off with one of the vans and the X-Trail with the security firms¡¯ two drivers and one guard.

They locked up one Wells Fargo guard in the abandoned van after beating him up and handcuffing him.

Back at the Wells Fargo strong room, there had not been any suspicion when the cash was picked. But, later the APs, who were supposed to escort the cash, arrived from Embakasi wondering why they had not been picked up at the agreed time. The officers were informed another crew had left with the cash to Garissa. The managers did not smell a rat and the four police officers were assigned other duties.

Four hours later passersby informed police of an abandoned Cash in Transit Van in Juja Farm. When the officers from Juja Police Station arrived they found the Wells Fargo guard tied and locked up in the van.

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