Residents of Kiambu sub-county have been cautioned against buying second hand mobile phones especially from unknown sources as they may have been acquired through dubious means.
Kiambu OCPD, SSP Stephen Ngetich said that innocent people have been lured into buying used phones without ascertaining their ownership.
The police boss advised residents to think twice if the deal was too good as some phones were snatched from victims of robberies and those found with them would be charged as being accomplices.
He cited a recent incident where police arrested a man found in possession of a mobile phone that belonged to a murder victim in Kanunga two months ago. He said the man had to reveal the identity of the person who sold him the device before he was released.
The OCPD added that the customers should also ask the sellers to insert their sim cards into sold phones to register their number into the network in case they give out false information about themselves.
He observed that residents should buy second hand devices from people they can trust and locate in case there are queries from the police.
A student from The Technical University of Kenya, Eric Muange, said that he bought a phone through an online classified site but his joy turned to horror after the police detained him telling him that he threatened a prominent person.
He said that he was however, released after answering questions that helped the police identify the real criminal but pledged never to purchase second hand items without keeping caution.