CAPITAL IN THE MORNING CRIME WATCH - WATCHING OUT FOR YOU

Capital Crime Watch is dedicated to protecting you. Keeping youself and your family safe should be everyone's number one priority. The crime rate in Nairobi has risen in recent months and we are urging you to be vigilent and report any incident that you have witnessed, no matter how small it may be.
We can only do this with your help, so please email you crime watch stories to breakfast@capitalfm.co.ke and we will alert Nairobi about them.
We want Nairobi to be a safer place to live... ...so get sending!

Thank you to Ronald for our first email below.
"hi im nai resident and im very concerned with the rise in insecurity.Of particular interest to me is the rise of small time thugs within Nairobi town. this thugs usually harass young boyz and and times also grown up dudes. what they do is that they catch you by suprise. they may come from behind you and put their arm over your shoulder or greet you like an old friend, once you accept their hand shake you are in shit!. naturally u will be shocked, and this is what they will use against u.usually they are about 3 of them at a time.the most notorious areas are around kenya cinema, 20th century cinema and especially around afya center. pliz let people know."

As seen in the news on 15.02.2007:
Thug Shot
Police have shot and killed a suspected gangster who was allegedly part of a gang that robbed more than 90,000 shillings from a bakery in Nairobi 's Umoja estate.
The gangster was killed when he allegedly failed to surrender, at about 8 am this morning.
His accomplice has been arrested and detained at the Buru Buru police station.
Head of Police Operations in Nairobi Area Julius Ndegwa, says they've recovered a toy pistol from the suspect.
He says the slain gangster and his accomplice have been involved in violent attacks in the area in the recent past, including yesterday when they allegedly attacked and robbed an elderly man.

Here are a few websites to help keep you safe:
(This information is not specific to Nairobi but is common to some methods used by criminals to carjack vehicles)

www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/avoid-carjacking.php

www.mtholyoke.edu/offices/dps/crimprev/vehsafe.shtml

www.safermotoring.co.uk/Carjacking.html

www.aware.org/crimes.shtml

Below are more emails received from our listeners trying to keep us all safe. 20.02.2007

HI MY NAME IS PATRICK, I WANT TO ALERT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO EASTLEIGH FOR SHOPPING TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME YOUNG BOYS WHO SNATCH PHONES AND HANDBAGS FROM UNSUSPECTING MOTORISTS. THEY USUALLY DISTRACT THE MOTORISTS BY BANGING ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CAR OR THE BOOT THEN THEY SNATCH WHEN YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT HAPPENS IN THE FULLVIEW OF POLICE WHO AFTER THE BOYS ARE CAUGHT AND TAKEN TO THE NEARBY CHIEFS CAMP THEY RETURN AFTER BRIBING THEM. ITS USUALLY BETWEEN 8TH STREET AND 6TH STREET.

Hi
I thought I should also share my experience. People should be very careful around Kencom bus stop. Some guys usually just bum around there pretending to be chilling for a bus or someone. When they see many people heading for one bus, they also join the quorum having identified one particular person to pickpocket. Guys have lost cell phones, handbags, wallets and maybe even jewelry. Please caution women in particular to be weary and carry their bags carefully, tightly. If you see someone about to be a victim, warn them…you never know when you’ll be next. Your car could be in the garage or you rushing to an interview or whatever it is, public transport is inevitable and you have to use it. You can never be prepared for a thief. Let’s look out for each other and fight crime.
Nduta.

My name is Grace Nderitu. On Wednesday last week, I was carjacked in Kibera (Karanja road) at around 7.00pm. I had parked my car outside a clinic where I had gone for some consultation. After finishing what I had gone to do, I entered my car ready to drive home. Before starting the car, an armed fellow knocked on my window and opened the car door immediately, pushed me to the co-drivers side, while allowing another thug to sit on the drivers’ seat. Before I could move to the other side, the left door was opened and I was shoved to the back seat by yet another armed fellow. Before I could sit on the back, the two rear doors were already open and I found myself sandwiched between two fellows who wasted no time in emptying my pockets including my ATM card, phone and other valuables. All these were done before the car was driven off. The car was driven along Kabarnet gardens road to Ngong road, menelik road down to state house. They then drove to town through Kenyatta Avenue, Nyerere road, state house road, DOD, KNH, Upper Hill through British High commission, Mombasa road, south B, Hazina and back to South B, SOUTH C and Nairobi west. In Nairobi West, the fellow who seemed to be commandeering them, came out and went to withdraw the money from ATM (I WAS FORCED TO REPEAT MY PIN NUMBER AFTER VERY FIVE MINUTES). After withdrawing the money, the fellow came again into the car and they drove to Madaraka Estate, where they ordred me into the car boot. They then went on to rob other people around that area. I was finally dropped somewhere in Jonathan Ngeno Estate in Langata area, next to some forest bordering Kibera slums. Luckily before they left, they opened the boot and told me to go with my car. They even showed me the direction to follow. Before I could report to the card centre to block the ATM they again withdraw some money (the following day!). Surprising there are several leads which if the investigating police would follow they can get these fellows. They used my phone to call their seniors while I was in the car before being taken to the boot. I was able to trace the number called from safaricom but the police men are not interested with such details. The bank people have INDICATED where the money was withdrawn and with their surveillance cameras, one can sample out the pictures TAKEN, a fact the police are not willing to follow. I got contact of the people who were robbed and they told me they can even identify those attackers as they met them face to face. All these facts, policemen are more than unwilling to do. Are they part of the deal? Just pray hard that you don’t get yourself into such hands and incase you get them, please corporate for the sake of your life. They attempted several times to take some cars which were parked on the road side, especially in the estates. Avoid parking cars on the roadsides! If possible carry some money with you because it was evident if I didn’t have any money with me, they could have simply shot me dead. May be carry your ATM only when you are going to withdraw money. Again don’t put a lot of petrol in your car as it facilitates them to carry so many ‘unintended’ assignments. Above all pray to the almighty to protect you. TAKE CARE

Dear Capital FM,I would like to raise a complaint without being malicious.There is a resident of Kahawa West Estate working with Apex Security who drives his car at reckless speeds within the estate.Surely this is a residential area with children and pedestrians along the sidewalks.Please,I would like you to highlight this case as the lives of road users within the estate are at risk.The speeds at which he drives are reserved for the highways and emergencies or does he have an emergency going home every day?Matt Were

Hi, On Wednesday evening, I was driving past Sharks on the Kiambu Road when Iwas stopped by a policeman. There were three policemen with guns. I pulled over and one came to the car, walked around it and when I opened my windown he politely said 'Good evening Madam'. He then informed me that he was just checking my safety. When I asked if there was a problem in the area, he said no. It was a pleasant surprise to receive this polite treatment and I wonder if it is because of the Capital Blog doing such a good job. Nairobi Resident

Residents of Kasarani area have one reason to worry about. When you pass through Moi International sports centre on your way to Mwiki from Safari Park you are on a black spot especially at night and morning hours. There are some crooks who are masquerading as athletes or should I say joggers. When you approach them or slow down due to potholes they turn to you, remove the gun/other weapons and you can guess what happens after that. My brother and I saw it happening. They carjacked a motorist, drove towards Roysambu. We were trailing them but upon reaching Kasarani police we drove in and reported the matter and the police alerted their colleagues. We just hope they were saved. Let's be cautious of these people and avoid this deserted route. Another black spot prone to muggers is Nyayo Market Bridge on your way to Ngara. Also around Odeon Cinema especially on Sunday morning when people are going to church. I hope I have saved or helped someone somewhere. Let's keep Kenya safe! CHEERS!