Divisional police headquarters in Thika Town where the two suspects are held. [Photo|NMG]Police in Thika have nabbed two motorcycle thugs believed to be part of a Boda-Boda cyclist gang that has been terrorizing residents in the sub-county.The two, James Macharia and Christopher Ndung’u were arrested on Sunday evening after two failed attempted robberies at the Gatitu Junction and near Naivas Supermarket.According to the Police, an undercover police officer positioned at the Gatitu junction saw the two, who are in their early 20s, accosting a lady who had just alighted from a matatu and attempted to snatch her handbag. Luckily, she was able to hold on to her bag to the chagrin of the two.When their mission aborted, Thika Today says, they sped off towards the CBD to Commercial Street near Naivas Supermarket. The undercover police followed them in his vehicle and there, he witnessed them again trying to snatch a bag from another lady. Like in the previous attempt, they too were not lucky and sped off again towards the old City Clock near Kristina GardensThe officer was able to trail them all the way to Haile Selassie Street near Klub Image where they parked their bike and entered a pork butchery for some meal.The two were arrested and taken to the police cells for further interrogation and upon, it was discovered that they hailed from Kamwangi in Gatundu North sub-county.The brand new motorbike they were using had no number plate, making it very difficult for anyone to identify it in case of any incident.“Most of these criminals come from Mang’u, Gatanga and Kabati areas. Very few of them are from within because we very easily trace where they live. However, we have a few living in Kiandutu, Kiganjo and Witeithie,” a police officer who did not want to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media said on Sunday as quoted by Thika Today.Recently, thugs riding on bodabodas have reigned terror targeting victims scrolling through their mobile phones or women carrying handbags and snatching them. In most of these instances, they ride in pairs with the passenger doing the actual snatching.It is tricky for victims to identify the perpetrators because the riders wear helmets or hoods, meaning their faces are covered and they cannot be identified. Most of their bikes do not also bear any number plates.The most notorious areas where these criminals have found refuge include Section 9 between the Shell roundabout and Chania Tourist Lounge, Section 2 between the KRA roundabout and Thika Primary School for the Blind, within the CBD.You will also likely to be robbed by the same gang at Magoko road towards Majengo Estate, Mukiriti area, Ngoingwa Estate especially along murram road, between KVM and Engen Petrol Station, between Engen and Kiang’ombe along the bypass, between Delta Petrol Station and Jungle Holdings among others.
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