Motorists and car owners in Thika Town have been asked to be cautious following what Thika OCPD Erastus Muthamia terms as the emergence of a car theft syndicate in the town.
Speaking from his office on Sunday following a botched carjacking attempt on Saturday near Thika's Mama Ngina Gardens where four thugs had posed as buyers, Muthamia said that such cases are on the rise in the town and called on motorists to be careful.
"We are trying to rein on this car theft syndicate but in the meantime we urge all motorists to exercise caution to avoid losing their vehicles to these criminals," Muthamia said.
He noted that the syndicate is particular targeting those intending to sell their cars.
"Those selling their vehicles are a soft target for this gang and, therefore, there is a need to first know the kind of a person your potential buyer is," said Muthamia.
The said thugs, two men and two women, according to the Police had posed as buyers of a Toyota Salon car from a Thika man when they suddenly turned against him and his friend who had accompanied him in the sale and tried to carjack them.
The attempt was, however, thwarted by the Police after members of the public raised the alarm. Three of the thugs were arrested while one managed to escape.