The incident unfolded shortly after 2pm along Kenyatta Avenue near the main market, when a young man allegedly snatched a smartphone from a woman walking along the busy street.
Eyewitnesses say the thief sprinted through narrow alleys, toppling fruit stalls, before climbing onto a rusty iron roof of a single-storey shop.
From above, he faced a growing crowd of residents shouting, “Shuka upigwe!”—Swahili for “come down and face justice.”
Some wielded sticks, while others gathered stones, and a few young men even fetched ladders from nearby shops.
For nearly 30 minutes, the suspect refused to descend, threatening to jump if anyone approached. Phones were out recording the standoff as bystanders watched tensely.
Eventually, the pressure proved too much. He slid down from the roof, landing amid the mob. Residents delivered a few blows before older men intervened, restraining the crowd.
Thika police arrived shortly after in two patrol vehicles, finding the suspect bleeding and promptly handcuffing him before taking him to the station for treatment and formal charges.
The incident has highlighted ongoing frustrations over rising phone snatching in the area. “We report to police, but the same boys keep coming back,” said a local matatu tout.
Rights groups caution against vigilante action, yet many residents feel forced to take matters into their own hands when crime feels unchecked.
Video clips of the rooftop chase have gone viral on WhatsApp, sparking both debate and admiration for the community’s swift action.
Police have promised to investigate the theft but have not commented on the mob’s response. For now, Thika’s streets are a little calmer, though locals warn that this may only be a temporary reprieve.