Mombasa man held after theft of Sh160,000

Residents of Changamwe yesterday disarmed and arrested a suspect accused of stealing Sh160,000 from a mobile money shop.

The man, who was in the company of two others, was cornered after he ran out of bullets.

He had been shooting in the air to scare residents.

His accomplices escaped with the money on a motorcycle as he was arrested and handed over to the police, said area deputy police boss Nyawa Murinzi.

"The suspects stormed the shop and demanded money in the 7am incident. He ran out of ammunition after shooting in the air and that is when he was arrested. We have handed the gun to ballistic experts for analysis as we investigate the matter," said Murinzi.

The police boss added that the suspect identified as Said Malonzwa from Kitui County revealed to investigators that he had travelled to Mombasa yesterday to meet his peers over a business deal.

Police believe the same gang that stole Sh12,000 last week in Chaani after robbing another mobile money shop.

The incident comes a day after police arrested another suspect who had stolen Sh600,000 after breaking into a parked vehicle in the CBD.

Police said the suspect was captured by CCTV cameras while breaking into a parked Toyota Prado before escaping with the money.

Urban police boss Eliud Monari said the owner of the vehicle reported the case and a manhunt was launched.