The Constable attached to Githurai police station in Kenya was robbed on Friday night of her AK47 rifle loaded with 30 bullets.
She reported that while on night patrol duties with her colleague, three men armed with a pistol confronted them and robbed her of the firearm before escaping into darkness.
The two officers were on patrol within the Kiwanjani area when the incident occurred.
“The officer was robbed of her Scorpion firearm loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition. Investigations have been launched,” police headquarters stated.
Senior officers, along with detectives from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), visited the scene.
This recent incident adds another deadly weapon to the arsenal of criminals, despite the ongoing efforts to combat armed gangs nationwide. The theft of several police firearms in recent months has raised security concerns.
On February 2, an AK47 and a G3 rifle were stolen from Kabonge police station in Kirinyaga county.
Following investigations by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), it was determined that one of the firearms had been stolen by a 25-year-old man from Mugure.
Acting on an intelligence report, the detectives later ambushed him, and an AK47 rifle along with 18 rounds of ammunition were discovered buried in a shallow hole outside his house.
“Two police officers from whom the AK47 and another G3 rifle were stolen are currently under investigation. Allegedly, the firearms were stolen after the cell sentry and report office attendant stepped out of their areas of deployment, leaving the firearms unattended at the reception area,” DCI headquarters