Nairobi, Kenya — July 26, 2025
In an attempted robbery that quickly turned into a comedy of errors, two would-be thieves found themselves locked inside an electronics shop they had broken into — and were arrested after spending hours desperately trying to escape.
According to police reports, the suspects, both in their early 30s, allegedly broke into Techtronix Electronics in Nairobi’s Industrial Area at around 2:30 a.m. Believing the shop to be loaded with expensive gadgets and cash, the duo forced their way in through the back entrance using metal cutters.
Once inside, however, the situation turned unexpectedly against them.
“They jammed the back door while breaking in, and unknowingly triggered the shop’s automatic security system, which locked down all exits,” said Inspector Lydia Mwangi of the Nairobi County Police. “They were completely sealed in.”
CCTV footage showed the pair frantically trying to pry open the now-locked main door and attempting to squeeze through a ventilation shaft — all in vain. For nearly four hours, the duo wandered around the showroom, trying various methods of escape and even attempting to call someone for help using one of the display phones — unaware that the devices were dummies.
Their luck finally ran out when a passerby noticed flickering lights and movement inside the closed shop and alerted authorities. Police arrived at the scene around 6:15 a.m. and found the two suspects still trapped inside, exhausted and visibly panicked.
“They were practically begging to be let out,” Inspector Mwangi said. “One of them had even written ‘PLEASE OPEN’ on a piece of cardboard and held it up to the window.”
The shop owner, James Otieno, expressed disbelief but relief. “They didn’t even manage to steal a single item,” he said. “All they succeeded in doing was locking themselves in and giving the neighborhood a good laugh.”
The two suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to face charges of attempted burglary and property damage.
