This archive report was first published on 21 September 2019.
On September 21, 2019, a brazen motorcycle theft was uncovered in Karatina, with the stolen vehicle being sold in Garisa, Eastern province.
According to reports, the motorcycle, a Boxer make with registration number KMET 819Y, was stolen from Nyaribo after the owner, Ndung'u Mathenge, dropped off a suspected customer at the Kabiruini-Witemere border.
The suspect, who had initially agreed to pay Sh800 upon arrival in Karatina, changed his mind and paid Sh1,000 at the destination instead. While the cyclist went to an Mpesa shop to look for change, the suspect hijacked the motorist and drove off at high speed, evading police who fired five shots in an attempt to stop him.
However, the police were able to track the stolen motorcycle using a recording machine for three days, eventually locating it in Garisa after it had been sold for Sh70,000 to another person.
The incident has raised concerns among local cyclists, with an assistant chief, Mary Mwangi, convening a public meeting to caution them against carrying customers without proper identification, in order to avoid potential risks.
