Mvita Sub-County Police Commander Nicholas Chalulot (left) at Tononoka police station displaying fake number plates used by suspected robbers on June 11, 2026.
A violent late-night shootout in Mombasa has exposed an organised car theft and street crime network operating in the city’s central business district.
Investigations show that the suspects often slip through urban surveillance using fake number plates and stolen vehicles, using sophisticated burglary tools in their criminal activities.
During the latest incident last Wednesday, three suspected gangsters escaped with gunshot wounds after a fierce exchange of fire with police along Kenyatta Avenue, where they had been caught breaking into and stealing from a parked vehicle while the owner was inside a nearby restaurant.
What initially appeared to be an opportunistic theft quickly escalated into a gun battle after the suspects opened fire on responding officers, before fleeing the scene in a damaged getaway vehicle and abandoning it during a pursuit that ended in the King’orani area.
Police officers at Tononoka Police Station inspecting recovered items from a botched robbery incident which occured along Kenyatta Avenue in Mombasa on June 1, 2026.
Mvita Sub-County Police Commander Mr Nicholas Chalulot said detectives were responding to a distress call from the vehicle owner, who had realised his belongings were being stolen as he dined nearby.
“They fired two rounds and when our officers responded, they sped off. A chase ensued and when they realised that they had been cornered, they abandoned their car and escaped on foot towards King’orani area,” said Mr Chalulot.
But beyond the exchange of gunfire, investigators say the incident has opened a window into a broader pattern of organised urban thefts targeting unattended vehicles in parking lots across Mombasa.
Police believe the group had been operating in a coordinated manner, repeatedly striking parked cars, often late in the evening, and using concealment tactics designed to evade both law enforcement and traffic surveillance systems.
Inside the abandoned Toyota Fielder used by the suspects, detectives found bloodstains on the dashboard and seats, which they believe belong to members of the gang injured during the shootout. The vehicle has since been impounded for forensic analysis.
Investigators also found a printed fake number plate placed over the original registration number. Police say the suspects did not have time to remove the fake plates as they fled, leaving behind key traces of identity.
The vehicle, which also bore a parking sticker from the Kilifi County Government, is now part of the evidence being examined as detectives probe possible links to other crimes. Mr Chalulot said investigators suspect a wider network behind the operations, including individuals involved in producing counterfeit registration plates.
“We believe there is someone who is printing the fake number plates and we have deployed our intelligence services together with DCI officers to flush out these criminals,” he said.
Stolen items
The incident has since triggered concern among victims who came forward after police recovered stolen items from the scene and from later searches, including women’s clothing, handbags and medical equipment.
Mr Hassan Ibrahim, the victim, goods worth tens of thousands of shillings were stolen when his vehicle was broken into. He later went to Tononoka Police Station, where he identified items belonging to him.
“I heard my car alarm go off and when I went to check I found them (thieves) looting. I want to thank the officers for acting fast,” said Mr Ibrahim.
Detectives also recovered what they describe as high-tech tools used to bypass vehicle locks and security systems. The equipment is now being analysed as part of efforts to establish whether the group has links to other similar break-ins reported across the city.
Police say the suspects appear to have been targeting high-end and newer model vehicles, particularly those left unattended in the evening.
Authorities have now urged hospitals in Mombasa and neighbouring counties to report any individuals seeking treatment for gunshot wounds. Further links have emerged to a rental apartment in Nyali, where officers reportedly recovered additional stolen items, including a camera and tripod stand.
“We are working with the landlord who is cooperating with the ongoing investigations,” said Mr Chalulot.
Police have also linked the suspects to a series of recent muggings in the city, suggesting the same group may be operating across multiple crime types. Inside the abandoned car, officers recovered three machetes believed to be part of weapons used in violent confrontations by the gang.
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