Woman arrested for allegedly stealing four-day-old child in Thika

A 43-year-old woman was Monday night arrested at Ngararia in Kandara, Murang'a County over claims she had stolen a four-day-old infant from Thika Level Five Hospital.

Police say they are holding Joyce Wambui after she allegedly stole the child from her mother on Monday afternoon.

According to reports, the mother had requested the woman to hold the child for her as she photocopied some documents when she vanished with the infant.

When the mother walked back to where she had left the two, she did not find them. It was then that she reported the issue to local hospital security and police.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said police traced the woman to a house where she was found with the child. The baby was crying for the mother’s attention then.

“The child was reunited with the mother and taken to hospital for checks,” said Kinoti.

He said the suspect would be charged with theft in a court of law.

Such incidents are common in hospitals. Some of the children are usually recovered and victims charged in courts.

Meanwhile, Kinoti wants anyone who has lost valuable documents to always report to authorities for safety purposes.

This follows increased cases of online fraud whereby unsuspecting individuals’ documents are being used to commit crime.

Kinoti told the public to always report to police any time they lose their identification cards, sim cards, mobile phones, laptops, personal documents including academic testimonials and driving licenses to get an abstract form.

“This is essential for not only getting police assistance in recovering the lost items, but also goes a long way in strengthening the victims' defense in case any such documents are subjected to unlawful use by the perpetrators,” he said.