Police foil Naivasha petrol station robbery attempt

Police in Naivasha have thwarted an attempt by a group of suspects to rob one of the leading petrol stations along Moi South Lake road.

More than ten thugs had raided Shell Petrol station near Karagita estate when officers from the nearby Karagita police station received report and swung into action.

The suspects fled from the scene after their efforts to break into one of the offices where the cash had been stored turned fruitless.

Trouble started when the suspects raided the petrol station at around 3am and rounded the four guards on duty.

According to a witness, Fred Waithaka, one of the guards managed to escape and informed police officers about the ongoing robbery.

“The officers rushed to the scene but the thugs managed to escape after failing to open the room where the cash had been kept,” he said.

Waithaka said that the guards escaped with minor injuries adding that there was a possibility the suspects hailed from the nearby Karagita estate.

Earlier, police had raided the same estate and recovered bhang worth thousands of shillings from one of the dens.

During the raid, the officers arrested seven suspects including the owner of the home who is said to be a drug dealer in the sprawling estate.

Waithaka said the use of bhang had become the norm in the estate that is home to hundreds of flower farm workers.

“The officers recovered over 1,000 stones of bhang and the man who has been peddling the drugs was also arrested,” he said.

He praised police for the sting operation adding that there was urgent need to address the issue of substance abuse in the estate.

Naivasha OCPD Samuel Waweru confirmed both incidents adding that they have launched a hunt for the thugs who had attempted to rob the petrol station.

“We are following some leads over the attempted robbery while the seven suspects nabbed with the bhang will be arraigned in court facing various charges,” he said.