Two fleeing suspects dropped a pistol as police gave chase after a robbery in Parklands, Nairobi.
Police said the incident happened on Sunday afternoon along Kolobot road.
This was after a rider with a pillion passenger snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian.
The pedestrian raised the alarm and grabbed the passenger's jacket, prompting a brief struggle.
In the scuffle, the suspects dropped a Falcon pistol and sped off.
On sighting the gun, the robbery victim screamed, attracting the attention of police on patrol.
The officers secured the pistol but the suspects had sped off towards Murang’a road with the stolen mobile phone.
Investigations are ongoing and the weapon was taken for ballistic analysis and to determine whether the weapon has been used in any other crimes.
As the hunt for the suspects continues, police visited different scenes to review CCTV footage that captured their movements.
This, as locals vowed to deal with criminals riding on motorcycles, saying cases of riders attacking them for cash and other valuables are on the increase.
On Tuesday, two suspected thieves escaped death after being cornered by residents during a botched robbery.
The incident happened near Stima Plaza at about 9am.
Police visited the scene and established the two - a rider and pillion passenger - snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian and tried to escape.
An alarm was raised which attracted other pedestrians.
They blocked the motorcycle, stoned and injured the two suspects.
The motorcycle was torched before police arrived and saved the two from being killed.
The suspects were escorted to a nearby hospital in critical condition, as police discouraged mob lynching and termed it criminal.
Suspects should be arrested and surrendered to authorities for processing, police said.