A gang dropped a pistol and escaped to avoid being caught by police who were chasing them after a robbery in Parklands, Nairobi.
Police said the incident happened on Sunday, July 21 afternoon along Kolobot Road.
This was after a rider with a pillion passenger snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian.
The pedestrian raised an alarm and grabbed the jacket of the pillion passenger.
This prompted a brief struggle prompting the two suspects to drop a Falcon pistol they had and sped off.
According to police, the drop of the pistol scared the screaming robbery victim.
Police who were on patrol in the area responded to the scene and secured the pistol.
By then, the two had sped off towards Murang’a Road with the stolen mobile phone.
Police said they are investigating the incident and want to establish if the weapon has been used in any crimes in the country.
The weapon was taken for ballistic tests and analysis even as the hunt for the suspects went on.
The team handling the matter has visited various spots to review CCTV footage that captured their movements as part of the probe into the incident.
Locals have vowed to deal with suspected criminals riding on motorcycles and attacking them for cash and other valuables.
Police say they have put in place measures to address such robberies in the city.
They blame motorcycles for some of the incidents but vow they will pursue all those involved for justice.
On Tuesday, two suspected thieves escaped death by a whisker after being cornered by locals in a botched robbery.
The incident happened near the Stima Plaza area at about 9 am.
Police visited the scene and established that two riders and a pillion passenger were said to have snatched a mobile phone from a pedestrian and tried to escape.
An alarm was raised which attracted other pedestrians.
They blocked the motorcycle forcing the rider and pillion passengers to land on the road where they were stoned and badly injured.
The motorcycle was torched in the drama before police arrived and saved the two from being killed.
The two were rescued by police and escorted to Shefco in critical condition.
Police discourage mob lynching and term it criminal.
They want suspects arrested be surrendered to authorities for processing.