The long arm of the law has finally caught up with two Iranian nationals accused of terrorizing Thika business owners with a sophisticated "stupefying" theft scheme, thanks to the quick thinking of a local shopkeeper who refused to be a victim twice.

Heidari Mansoior Eslam, 56, and Babaei Ahmad Mirzaaga, 40, are currently guests of the state at Thika Police Station after a dramatic citizen arrest that nearly turned into a mob justice incident. The duo had allegedly perfected a dark art: posing as wealthy customers to confuse, drug, or "stupefy" traders before emptying their cash registers.

The Sting Operation

The suspects ran out of luck when they entered a mobile phone shop in Thika’s bustling CBD. Unbeknownst to them, the shopkeeper recognized their faces from a grainy CCTV clip circulated on a traders' WhatsApp group. He quietly alerted a colleague who had fallen victim to the pair just a month prior, losing KES 15,000 in a similar "hypnotic" heist.

"They act very nice, very confused about the currency," the victim recounted. "Before you know it, you are handing them money and you don't know why." Upon positive identification, the alarm was raised. Within minutes, the usually individualistic Thika business community mobilized into a united front, cornering the foreigners.

• Mob Justice Averted: DCI detectives arrived just in time to rescue the suspects from an irate public fed up with rising insecurity. "We wanted to teach them a lesson," one boda boda rider admitted. "Why come all the way from Iran to steal from hustlers?"
• The "Mchele" Menace: This arrest highlights a growing trend of "transnational petty crime" where foreigners exploit local hospitality. It also mirrors the rampant "mchele" (spiking) culture usually associated with nightclubs, now migrating to daylight commerce.

A Community on High Alert

The arrest has sent shockwaves through the Kiambu business community. It serves as a stark reminder that in 2026, security is no longer just about police patrols; it is about community vigilance. The "Nyumba Kumi" initiative, often dismissed as bureaucratic talk, proved its worth on the streets of Thika.

As the Iranian duo awaits their day in court, Thika traders are celebrating a rare victory for the "little guy" against international crime. But they remain vigilant, knowing that for every two caught, others may still be lurking in the shadows.