Dreadlocks Thieves Emerge in Nairobi…They’re Shaving Victims Unawares

Dreadlocks have become the new item targeted by thieves in Nairobi. Thugs are shaving people in salons and matatus following a high demand for dreadlocks.
A tweet by Tom Makau last week brought to light the strange crime, in which he claimed that a salon had been raided in Westlands. Apparently, the thugs shaved all the clients and took away dreadlocks worth Shs 40,000.
According to Nairobi News, two days earlier, Brenda Okwiri’s locks were cut in a matatu on her way to South C.
“When I was boarding the matatu, I noticed two young men whom I had seen at the supermarket earlier. The one with a black backpack greeted me as he got into the vehicle. I sat on the second last row,” she said “When I alighted at Panadol, I realised that my dreadlocks were lighter and on  touching my head, I discovered they had actually been trimmed. I suspected the two fellows but they had alighted two stops before mine.”
She had kept the locks for more than 6 years but revealed she would not report to the police.
“I cried and still feel the pain. It would not bring my dreadlocks back and I don’t think there is anything much the police could have done except write in the OB,” said Brenda.
Brenda’s hair stylist, Fred Benzo, said the locks fetch a good price depending on the length.
“Some go for as much as Sh40,000. For Sh20,000, one can get six-inch long dreadlocks. They fetch even better money when crocheted on a foreigner’s head,” he said.
“People who want to make money from their locks go to salons to find clients. Most of the clients who come for the extensions are those that do not want to use chemicals on their hair or want dreadlocks but their hair is short,” he concluded.
Additional reporting by Nairobi News