CAPITAL CRIME WATCH

Thank you very much for all your emails and text messages regarding Kenyans' safety. We are playing our part, so please play yours.

Thanks to Myra for her email below.

Hi Seanice and Fareed,
I'm Myra. Thanx so much for this crime watch thing it gives us an opportunity to warn other unsuspecting Kenyans so they dont fall victims.
I go to a college in Tom Mboya street. Looking out the window for an hour (I'd appreciate if we overlooked the fact that I waste time in class, and this is between us) I witnessed six people robbed off their mobile phones not to mention the ladies' handbags. Some young lads follow you from the Tusker Supermarket posing just as any other human with somewhere to go to. If by any chance you are having a phone or handbag, just after Ukwala supermarket there is a small passage to a backstreet, here is where whatever you are carrying is snatched and they go through there to the other street. People who are brave enough to follow their lost possessions are stopped in their tracks by another group who have all sorts of crude weapons and they dare you to come any closer while the thief just stands behind them looking at you like "Keep moving". I'm telling you the sight alone is frustrating. It gets better when it rains and this is now like a daily routine because the young lads are there everyday.
Please warn people not to answer their calls on that street and to always be careful when walking Tom Mboya, along the Tusker Supermaket through to Odeon cinema. Thanx again.
Myra

Below are two text messages received.

PICK POCKETS - ROUTE NUMBERS 6, 8 AND 46.
VIOLENT SNATCHERS - CALIFORNIA EST NEAR PANGANI, MOI AVENUE AND HARAMBEE AVENUE.
MOBILE THEFT- RACECOURSE ROAD.
CARJACKERS - UTHIRU, KINOO AND GACHIE.

There are thugs operating along Wayaiki Way in mornings harassing motorists. Shomba

Below are a few tips to help you all stay safe:

Carjacking Avoidance

Have a Personal Security Plan:
What if :
Car breaks down- who do I call?
Lose cell phone?
If I get lost?
Suspicious car following?
Pre-plan before a trip, no matter how small
Kenya is classified at a critical security level. Crime is rampant.

Avoidance by awareness:

• 50% of carjackings are successful. About 50 – 70 everyday in Nairobi.
• May occur at anytime of day or night.
• May occur in areas with little or no security
• Criminals may be operating with the complicity of local police or military.

If a gun is pointed at you the reality is you will be scared. The criminals will also have heightened adrenaline. Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

Motivation:

• Economic – using cars to commit more crime
• Criminal

The number one car is “the one that will do”. In many cases carjackers are only interested in items of value and the vehicle. Some start on foot at the beginning of the day and move onto vehicles.

Tactics Used:

• Usually not alone, often work in gangs
• Usually armed
• Weapons of choice dictated by existing conditions and availability. In Kenya – hand guns; knives and long guns (AK-47).
• Ideal attack sites: high crime areas

Lesser travelled roads

Intersections where you have to stop

Isolated areas of parking lots

Residential driveways – have lights, trim hedges, ring guards that you are close.

Traffic jams, congested areas (even Uhuru Highway ) use side mirrors.

* The Bump – You are bumped from behind. When you get out, your vehicle is taken. Check area before getting out. Wave to the person behind to follow you to a safer spot or police station. Check their car , if more than one male be suspicious. Also can get caught between two cars, are accomplices.

* The Good Samaritan – Someone tries to get your attention to ask for help or feigns an emergency and asks for a lift. Or a woman with baby in blanket, baby is a gun! Do not stop, if feel guilty use a cell phone and ring police. If you break down you do not have to wait with the car, find a duka.

* The Ambush – Usually occurs when your vehicle is stopped by rocks or bushes on road. Attackers approach and force you out. Usually involves a weapon. Do you have to stop? Avoid, go around, turn around. Roadblock on a T intersection.

Countermeasures:

• Travel with windows up and doors locked.
• Utilize rear and side view mirrors to spot danger
• Don't make it obvious you have a cell phone

Your brain is your most useful and vital tool

Awareness and avoidance:

Criminals never come out of “nowhere”- you weren't paying attention

Have a plan- what if…?

Know your surroundings.

If things just “don't feel right” - they probably aren't.

Added Precautions:

• Do not stop to assist strangers
• Park in secure, well lit areas
• Separate your house keys from your ignition keys
• don’t carry ATM or credit cards. Always have some spare cash, 500/- to 1,000/-.
• Carry a radio or mobile with you.
• Have important phone numbers memorised, if mobile stolen…
• Play the what if game
• Sell your car and buy a tank!
• If vehicle stopped- do not resist- talk loud, listen, tell criminal what you are doing

- do not hesitate- ultimate goal is to survive- your car is not worth your life

• If you feel you may be a potential target for a carjacking get out of the area immediately- contact help.
• If someone following- go around the block- go to the nearest police station.
• If carjacking does occur be able to answer afterwards - who? What? Where? When? And why?

Summary:

• Most carjackers only interested in items of value and the vehicle
• Attacks can occur at any time of day or night
• A majority of incidents involve weapons
• In most reported cases, victims who did not resist were not injured
• If confronted by armed attackers, it’s too late- comply.

CAPITAL IN THE MORNING VALENTINES MAKE OVER

BEFORE

On the 13th of February, having left Fareed alone in the Studio, Seanice, Intern and Max headed down to Truworths at the Sarit Center to join the Truworth's crew and Emma - our Valentines Make Over winner.
We spent a good few hours dressing and undressing, criticising and being highly surprised at some choices of clothes for Emma!
We had to take into account the different style and work with the vast array of clothes on display that would compliment Emma's figure.
We wanted 'our model' to look unique and eye catching.
Posted below is the end result. We hope that you agree with Emma when she said that she felt and looked like a 'Princess'.

We could not agree more! Mission accomplished!


AFTER

And this is the hard working crew who did all the work! Thanks to Seanice for taking the pic! And a big thanks to Truthworth's and 98.4 Capital FM for changing Emma's life!



Posted by Intern

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!

CAPITAL IN THE MORNING VALENTINES MAKE OVER

Just to say thank you for being a loyal fan of the show and the station, we the breakfast crew ( including the intern who is still nameless) want to spoil you this Valentines. And its easy- no difficulties involved.

Here's the catch- just send us an email to breakfast@capitalfm.co.ke
with reasons why you or someone you know deserves a makeover..thats all..if you think you are eligible for it, then what are you waiting for? ...Include a picture too and leave the rest to us.

You or the person you nominate stand to win- A MAKE OVER WORTH 10,000 SHILLINGS, courtesy of Capital fm- your best mix of music and the new Tru worths clothing store at the Sarit centre........You want to win this or at least give your loved one this offer,....so what you waiting for? ASAP may i gladly remind you that you will be entered into a draw where you stand a chance to win a trip for two to Paris, France ( we at capital are not eligible to enter this so the more reason for you to grab this opportunity and win the prizes) .

We will call the person who gets to win tomorrow morning on Breakfast......all the best to the person who wins this...........Its our way of sharing the valentines spirit with you....HAPPY VALENTINES TO YOU ALL.....YOU ARE OUR VALENTINES AND WE LOVE YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FUND

Hey peeps..the whole of last week, we dealt with an issue that really is of concern to us and will still be an issue in the days and probarbly years to come- starting up a business in light of the government's effort to set up a youth fund. You and i may have at one time or another complained ( or in harsher terms BITCHED) about how the youth are wasting their efforts and education by indulging in crime and other vices coz of unemployment.

......The other day, a local Tv station had this feature on how guys under the age of 25 are dying from being shot by the police in either criminal activities or even in mistaken identities and more so, in drink and drive accidents....my heart always goes to their parents- who invest so much in there children with the little they have only for them to die mercilessly just because they never made the right choice ( yet they had the moment to make that right decision)......

.....Anyway, back to what i wanted to address- youth unemployment. The current government’s strategy to address the problem has been the establishment of the Sh1 billion youth entrepreneurship fund. Have you taken time to go through the information on the fund? Have you considered applying for it? seriously????......The youth in kenya have for a long time been neglected and even used by politicians across the board in different ways. Currently, there are more than 660,000 job seekers released into the labour market annually but the formal sector can only absorb a tenth of them. And at the end, the- the youth are the ones who suffer: thats why its time to PUT YOUR SELF FIRST AT THE FORE FRONT IN TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE AND FUTURE..and in this case, you have been given the chance to do so with the youth fund. ( More information on the fund can be obtained at the ministry’s website, www.youthaffairs.go.ke.)

....In the United States, it has been observed that entrepreneurial capacity and behaviour are the prime drivers of economic growth and job creation. Entrepreneurship has been recognised as one of the secrets behind economic growth. Thus, entrepreneurial vitality is one of the factors explaining the superior performance of the US economy in generating innovation and employment.

.....Whats your take on this fund? A friend of mine walked up to me and made a rather interesting remark- Is youth fund a myth or the new gateway to success? ..............And i thought to myself- hmmmm maybe, maybe not..........Have you logged on to find more details about it?

...Vinnie ( OH FYI-the Maasai guy in the pic is 27 yrs old and he fits in the youth bracket)