A Kenyatta University student has recounted how he retrieved his stolen phone from a thief. According to the student, he met an old friend, Vincent, at a hotel in Kahawa Wendani on Friday, April 10, 2015. During their meeting, Vincent asked to borrow the student's phone to communicate with his friends.
The student lent Vincent his phone, and after sending a few texts, Vincent returned the phone. However, when Vincent stepped out to check on another friend, he took the opportunity to steal the phone. The student realized he had been conned when he discovered that the documents Vincent's other friend, Stude, had been carrying were blank papers.
Recovery Efforts ¶
The student immediately took action to recover his stolen phone. He put his iPhone on lost mode using iCloud and copied Vincent's phone number. He then contacted his uncle, who works at the CID headquarters, and was referred to a friend at the Ruiru Police Station.
On Monday, April 13, the student recorded a statement at the Ruiru Police Station and spoke with the CID in charge. The CID advised him to gather more information about Vincent, including his full name and details. The student visited the hostel where he and Vincent used to stay, but they could not provide any information about Vincent.
The student then went to the KU security office, where he was asked to write a statement. The security office contacted Vincent and instructed him to report to the office the following day. When Vincent failed to show up, the student visited the IT support office to see if they could match Vincent's first name with his phone number in their database.
Tracing the Thief ¶
The student sent KSH 10 to Vincent's phone, which revealed his full name: Vincent Momanyi. Vincent later called the student, offering to return the phone. However, he claimed he needed to ask for permission from his workplace and might not be able to return the phone until the evening.
After several exchanges, Vincent agreed to take the phone to either the KU security office or the CID office at Ruiru. On Wednesday, April 15, Vincent returned the phone to a security officer at the KU main gate, and the student was able to retrieve it.
The recovered account cited reporting by E! News.
