Robbers steal from hotel but drop money as they flee

Security officers manning a beach hotel in Diani, South Coast Kwale County, foiled a robbery, preventing robbers from escaping with money stolen from the facility.

Richard Glosser, a manager at the hotel, said the robbers made their way into the hotel and ordered guests to surrender valuables, including cellphones, before spotting the cash box and attempting to run with it.

However, their attempt to escape with the loot was thwarted after an alarm was raised, triggering back up from private guards and police, who arrived moments after the thugs had struck. Thick forest cover surrounding the hotel made it hard for the robbers to escape. They ended up throwing the loot in the forest.

“We found the cash box intact and recovered an I-phone, several mobile phone handsets, including a black berry mobile phone,’’ Glosser said.

He said there was an exchange of fire between police and the robbers. A private security guard sustained injuries on his shoulders and was taken to a nearby hospital where he is receiving treatment. Kenya Association of Hotel keepers and Caterers (Kahc) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye commended quick action by both the private security guards and police.

Msambweni County AP Commander Wilson Gichuhi confirmed the incident when he later addressed journalists at the hotel’s premises.

Mr Gichuhi said no arrests had been made following the Friday night robbery attempt, but assured those present that police were making very good progress on the incident and would soon arrest the thugs.