Two Iranian nationals are in police custody at Thika Police Station after an alert shopkeeper thwarted an alleged scam attempt and linked them to an earlier theft that cost another businessman Sh15,000.
The suspects were identified as 56-year-old Heidari Mansoior Eslam and 40-year-old Babaei Ahmad Mirzaaga. Their arrest followed a dramatic confrontation that nearly escalated into mob violence before police officers intervened.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the incident occurred when the two men walked into a mobile phone shop pretending to be potential customers. However, the shopkeeper quickly became suspicious after recalling a similar theft at a nearby business about a month earlier.
In the statement, the DCI said the duo had been “weaving their web of deception” inside the shop, prompting the vigilant trader to discreetly contact a fellow businessman who had previously fallen victim to a scam.
When the second shopkeeper arrived, he positively identified the two Iranians as the same individuals who had allegedly used “stupefying tactics” to defraud him of Sh15,000 in the earlier incident.
As the identification became known, members of the public began to gather, with tensions rising rapidly. The DCI described the crowd as having “the fury of a lion protecting its cubs,” raising fears of possible vigilante action.
Police officers from the Thika division arrived in time to rescue the suspects from the hostile crowd and restore calm.
The DCI praised the quick thinking of the “sharp-eyed” shopkeeper, noting that his actions prevented a fresh crime and helped crack the earlier case.
The two suspects are currently being processed at Thika Police Station and are expected to be arraigned in court to face formal charges.
