Police station theft: Motherboard found in vegetation
Daring thieves broke into an office at the Reiger Park SAPS and stole an office computer, belonging to the communication officer, apparently overnight on December 8.
Spokesperson for the police station, Sgt Mashudu Phathela confirmed the burglary, adding that the thieves gained access to the police station through the back fence.
“They cut a hole through the fence, entered the yard and walked to my office, where they forced opened the door, breaking the lock,” says Phathela.
Although there were police officers at the station when the incident took place, the thieves took the computer and managed to slip away unnoticed.
Phathela says he arrived at his office on Tuesday morning, December 9 and found the door ajar.
Fellow officers conducted a search around the premises and found the motherboard hidden in the vegetation near the station.
The monitor was not found.
A case of burglary was registered and no arrest has been made so far.
Phathela expressed his shock at the theft at the police station.
“We found this embarrassing and disrespectful. What message does this send to the community we serve, if we can’t safeguard our own property?
“We have always believed that a police station would be the last place criminals would ever target, but they have now proved us wrong.
“We have to step up security at the station,” concludes Phathela.
Phathela, however, assured members of the public of their security, adding that the police would not rest until the thieves are caught.
* It is not the first time the station fall victim to criminals.
The same station was targeted a while ago, when thieves entered the police station, also stealing a computer.
The same modus operandi was used to commit the crime.
-@FanieBoksburg
